Harrovian sure to be in mix

HARROVIAN can prove himself the class act in Epsom’s City And Suburban Handicap. John and Thady Gosden’s five-year-old has long been highly consistent in top handicap company and appears to have plenty in his favour as he returns for his third campaign.

The only two significant blips on Harrovian’s career record have both come at

York, last of seven in unsuitably soft ground in October 2019 and when never managing to get into contention in last year’s John Smith’s Cup.

He has never been out of the money in nine other starts, winning three times.

This will be his first visit to Epsom and its unique contours, but he has run well on a variety of tracks, undulating or otherwise.

He can be assured of his

GOING – Good

EPSOM DOWNS WELCOMES BACK OWNERS HANDICAP £11,500 added 4YO plus 5f Penalty Value £5,927 (CLASS 3) favoured ground conditions and, with Frankie Dettori back to assist having won on him over very close to this trip at Doncaster last summer, he is sure to be in the thick of it again.

VALYRIAN STEEL should thrive on a better surface in the Great Metropolitan Handicap after coming unstuck on soft ground in his final start of 2020.

Roger Varian’s runner had looked an animal of potential in winning his first two starts at Newcastle and Beverley.

SELECTIONS:

EPSOM: 1.45 Duke Of Firenze, 2.15 Hector De Maris, 2.50 HARROVIAN (NAP), 3.20 Fast Steps, 3.55 Valyrian Steel, 4.30 Year Of The Dragon. YARMOUTH: 1.20 Urtzi, 1.55 Robasta, 2.30 The First King, 3.00 Coldstream, 3.35 Noble Queen, 4.10 Winter Snowdrop, 4.45 Royal Fleet, 5.15 Whittle Le Woods. DOUBLE: Ha0rrovian and Valyrian Steel.