Form expert Adam Blencowe has Toydini on top of his 2014 Epsom Handicap tips and believes the talented galloper will be tough to beat in the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick tomorrow.
Toydini is Racing And Sports Senior Handicapper Adam Blencowe's Epsom Handicap tip. Photo by: Steve Hart
Toydini worked home strongly to finish third behind Boban in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) last year and he has produced a number of consistent performances at Group 1 level in the past 12 months without breaking through for a win at the highest level of racing.
Royal Descent is currently on top of 2014 Epsom Handicap betting markets, but Blencowe told RSN that he is happy to risk the consistent mare, as well as stablemate Boban, and rates Toydini good value at his current Epsom Handicap odds.
“It is getting canned a little bit for being a below par Epsom and the thing that it is lacking is new blood,” Blencowe said.
“Toydini was only narrowly beaten in it last year by Boban and he meets him on better terms here.
“There has never been a huge amount between the pair and I think that Toydini is going slightly better now.
“Boban has really run his race too often in recent times and I think you can sort of pot him.
“Royal Descent loves to run second and she is obviously a good mare, but historically there are a few weight things against her there.
“I thought Toydini in a pretty compressed setting would be pretty hard to beat.”
While Blencowe is happy to lay Royal Descent and Boban, he is not ruling their stablemate He’s Your Man out of Epsom Handicap contention and he believes that the Cape Cross gelding is capable of winning the Group 1 event if he handles the step back in trip to 1600 metres after winning the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at his last start, while Laser Hawk is another that appeals at his current quote.
“He’s Your Man, if there is new blood it is probably him,” Blencowe said.
“He has a nice little profile there and his rating profile suggests that he is on the up and can run a figure that would make him pretty hard to beat here.
“Laser Hawk is a real weight horse off the last run at weight-for-age and dropping down to 53.
“He hasn’t won for a long while, but he hasn’t done much racing in that time.”
Toydini has been backed into Epsom Handicap odds of $5.50 and Laser Hawk is into $9, while He’s Your Man has remained steady at $6.
