A Bank Holiday at the Home of the Derby

My old dad had a saying: "If you can't enjoy a day at the races on a Bank Holiday, you can't enjoy anything." He wasn't wrong. There's something wonderfully unhurried about a Monday afternoon at the track — the queues are a little shorter, the mood a little lighter, and if you're lucky, the sun is doing its best impression of summer. Epsom Downs on the last Bank Holiday of August is exactly that kind of occasion.

Today's going is reported as Good to Soft, Good in places, which is about as honest as the ground gets at this time of year. We've had a damp few days across Surrey, and while the sun may flirt with us this afternoon, the surface will retain enough give to reward horses that handle a little cut. That's an important note as we work through the card, because Epsom's undulations and famously tricky camber already sort the wheat from the chaff — add a bit of softness and you really do need horses that know what they're doing around here. Check out the full Epsom Downs racecard for all the details before you have a flutter.

Seven races, a bit of sunshine (hopefully), and a Bank Holiday crowd. Let's get into it.

The Feature Race: The Betfred 'Nifty 50' Amateurs' Derby Handicap (15:35)

With a prize fund of £20,000 and the romance of amateur jockeys tackling Epsom's famous mile and a half, the Amateurs' Derby Handicap is the undisputed centrepiece of the afternoon. Fourteen runners, a proper field, and the kind of race that reminds you why you fell in love with this sport in the first place. There's always an extra frisson when the amateur riders take the reins — some of these lads and lasses are seriously talented, and over a trip like this, class and horsepower tend to shine through.

The horse that catches my eye most keenly here is Gordon Grey (6yo, rated 85, Mr P. W. Mullins up for George Baker). He brings both course and distance form to the table — those [C,D] flags are worth their weight in gold around Epsom — and with Patrick Mullins in the saddle, you're not exactly getting a nervous novice. Mullins is one of the most accomplished amateur riders in the game, and he'll have no trouble handling Epsom's peculiarities. At a mile and four furlongs on ground that should suit a horse with a decent cruising speed, Gordon Grey looks a very solid each-way proposition.

Sweet Reward (9yo, rated 87, Mr James Hills) heads the weights and has course form to his name, but nine-year-olds on ground with cut do ask questions of ageing legs. He's not without a chance — Jonathan Portman keeps his horses in fine fettle — but I'd want a price. Son of Man (5yo, rated 82, Mr Ross Birkett for Jim Boyle) also catches the eye with distance form and looks unexposed at this level.

Key Runners to Watch Across the Card

Em Four — 13:50 Turbo Boost Handicap (Class 5, 6f)

The opener over six furlongs looks competitive enough, but Em Four (4yo, rated 74) stands out for all the right reasons. Trained by Jamie Osborne and ridden by his daughter Saffie Osborne, this one carries both course and distance form [C,D] into a race where several rivals are having their first look at the track. Saffie has been in cracking form and she knows Epsom well — there's a lovely family storyline here too, with father and daughter combining. On Good to Soft ground, that track knowledge could prove decisive in a sprint where the draw and the camber can catch the uninitiated off guard.

Aurora Majesty — 15:00 The Classic Bookmaker Handicap (Class 3, 7f)

This is a proper Class 3 handicap worth £20,000, and it's packed with talent. Aurora Majesty (4yo, rated 88, David Probert for Archie Watson) holds both course and distance credentials [C,D] and is partnered by one of the most reliable jockeys on the southern circuit. Probert is the kind of rider who doesn't panic — exactly what you want at Epsom, where the track can unsettle even experienced horses. New Vega (rated 90) and Morte Point (rated 90) are both loftily rated, but neither has the combination of track familiarity and a jockey this in tune with the course. Aurora Majesty at a likely each-way price looks the play.

Trio — 16:05 The Stanley Wootton Handicap (Class 4, 1m 2f)

Named after the legendary trainer who did so much for Epsom racing, the Stanley Wootton Handicap is a fitting tribute race and a fascinating puzzle. Trio (3yo, rated 79, Charles Bishop for Eve Johnson Houghton) brings course form [C] over a slightly different trip, but the step up to a mile and two furlongs on ground with cut could be exactly what this lightly-raced three-year-old needs. Eve Johnson Houghton is a trainer who knows how to place her horses, and a 3yo getting the weight allowance in this field is always worth a second look. Perfect Scoundrel (rated 77, Robert Havlin) with [C,D] flags is the obvious danger and shouldn't be dismissed lightly.

Silver Trumpet — 17:15 The Betfred 'Play Fred's £5 Million' Handicap (Class 4, 7f)

The closer of the afternoon is a six-runner Class 4 over seven furlongs, and Silver Trumpet (5yo, rated 75, Jason Watson for Eve Johnson Houghton) ticks a lot of boxes. Course and distance form [C,D] is the starting point, and Watson is a jockey who goes about his business with quiet efficiency — he rarely gets the headlines but he gets the winners. With only six runners, pace scenarios become clearer and Silver Trumpet's track record suggests he handles Epsom's quirks comfortably. The Good to Soft ground is unlikely to inconvenience him either.

How the Going Affects Today's Selections

Good to Soft, Good in places — it sounds like a weather forecast written by someone sitting on the fence, but it actually tells us quite a lot. The ground will reward horses with a decent action that can pick their feet up through the give, rather than flat-footed gallopers who prefer rattling-fast ground. At Epsom specifically, the camber on the home straight already demands balance and athleticism, and a bit of cut in the ground amplifies that requirement.

Horses carrying [C,D] flags — meaning they've already won at this course and distance — are always worth extra respect at Epsom, because not every horse takes to this track. Today, with the ground adding another variable, that proven course form becomes even more valuable. It's no coincidence that most of my selections carry those letters beside their names.

Kieren Fox and Joe Leavy are both riding today and are worth following across the card — both are jockeys who handle varying ground conditions with composure, and on a day like this, that composure in the saddle matters.

Best Bets & Ones to Watch

  • Best Bet: Gordon Grey (15:35) — Course and distance form, top amateur jockey, looks the complete package for the feature race.
  • Each-Way Pick: Aurora Majesty (15:00) — Track and trip specialist with David Probert in a competitive Class 3. Likely to go off at a decent price.
  • Saver: Em Four (13:50) — Saffie Osborne and Jamie Osborne combining at a track they know well. Hard to ignore.
  • One to Watch: Silver Trumpet (17:15) — Course and distance form in a small field. If the price is right, each-way appeal is strong.
  • Dark Horse: Trio (16:05) — Lightly raced three-year-old with course form and a weight advantage. Could be ahead of the handicapper.

Whatever you're backing today, enjoy the racing. Bank Holiday Mondays at Epsom have a charm all of their own — there's a reason my family has been making the trip down the A24 for three generations. Here's hoping the ground stays kind, the stewards stay quiet, and your selections stay the right side of the winning post. Good luck, everyone.