He’s Your Man has won the 2014 Epsom Handicap by the narrowest margins to give Joao Moriera a maiden Group 1 victory in Australia at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Royal Descent looked like she had the race won when she kicked clear at the 200 metre mark, but He’s Your Man finished strongly to steal victory on the line in an extremely close finish.

Read more about how He’s Your Man won the 2014 Epsom Handicap.

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Toydini has been one of the best backed runners in the 2014 Epsom Handicap at Royal Randwick this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart

Royal Descent has been the favourite in 2014 Epsom Handicap betting markets since the final field and barrier draw was released on Wednesday morning, but she has been joined on top of betting by Toydini this morning.

Toydini finished third behind Boban in the 2013 edition of the Epsom Handicap and has been backed from $6 into $5 to go two better in this year’s edition of the race after he finished third in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 6 and eighth in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at the same venue on September 20.

Royal Descent has drifted from $4.60 out to $5 this morning, but trainer Chris Waller and jockey Hugh Bowman remain confident that the Redoute’s Choice mare can record her first race win in 18 months after she finished second in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m), Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) and George Main Stakes this preparation.

He’s Your Man will be partnered by superstar jockey Joao Moreira in the Epsom Handicap and the imported galloper has been booked into Epsom Handicap odds of $5.50 this morning.

The Cape Cross gelding finished a flat third behind the Gai Waterhouse-trained duo of Greatwood and Bonfire in the Listed Premier’s Cup (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 30, but he returned to winning form with an impressive win in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 13.

Waller is hoping that He’s Your Man can handle the drop back in trip, but history is against the five-year-old as no winner of the Epsom Handicap has come out of the Kingston Town Stakes in the past thirty years.

Last year’s winner Boban was an early drifter in Epsom Handicap betting, but he has remained steady at a quote of $7 in the last 24 hours.

Boban missed the placings in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m), Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) since starting his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign, but Waller is hoping that the Bernardini gelding can produce an improved performance in his return to Sydney racing.

There are no other horses that are available at single figure odds in Epsom Handicap betting, but there has been a sprinkling for Woodbine, who has been $26 into $21.

The 2014 Epsom Handicap will be run at Royal Randwick at 4 o’clock this afternoon and you will be able to find all the Epsom Handicap results at horseracing.com.au.