Epsom becomes the centre of attention for the horse racing world from Friday. With plenty of competitive racing on the supporting card to the Oaks, Matty Sutcliffe has four value punts for you to get stuck into.
1:30 Epsom – Nyetimber Surrey Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo) – The Waco Kid 16/1 0.5pt EW 3 places
Prominent racers fared little chance in the Craven Stakes and THE WACO KID was certainly unsuited by making all at a fair pace, so his nine lengths seventh can slightly be upgraded as he was eased off once his chance went, though his showed plenty of zip to suggest his two year old ability remains.
While he was well beaten next time out in Listed company, he was noted to have lost his action so we can also draw a line through that and if he was coming off the back of his Craven effort, he’d look overpriced in here.
The Mehmas colt showed up well last term, landing a Newbury novice before a solid effort in the Richmond Stakes, and he was far from disgraced when fourth in the Acomb Stakes, finishing best of the rest with the form in behind him working out. He was then a length third to Benvento in the Flying Scotsman Stakes, with the second Symbol Of Honour franking the form generously this term, and he managed to land the G3 Tattersall Stakes from the front in impressive fashion, puling two lengths clear from Diego Ventura who’s installed as the 5/2 favourite in here.
He’s well drawn to make all here and if that effort last time out was a blip, then he has a strong chance on his Craven effort for a yard that took this with Ever Given in 2022.
2:05 Epsom – Betfred British EBF Woodcote Stakes (Conditions Race) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (2yo) – Rising Empire 10/1 1pt WIN
Having a son of Bangkok in the Woodcote was not on my 2025 bingo card, but RISING EMPIRE looks to have gained the speedier genes of his dam-sire Profitable. The relatively inexpensive purchase was a big eye-catcher in a 16k Leicester Maiden on debut, having run green in rear and switching to the far-side/centre of the track, finishing off strongly under a hands and heels ride. He was just in behind Logi Bear there who also ran green, but that one ended up with the benefit of the near-side rail once mounting a challenge to keep him straight, before going on to win comfortably last time out at Newmarket.
Rising Empire then went to Windsor for a 21k Maiden and duly obliged as an odds on favourite, winning a shade cosier than the 1/2L margin suggested with the second having the rail to guide throughout, and Rising Empire showed an impressive attitude in coming in between horses to win well.
Stall nine would pose a question, but he’s already proven capable of coming from off the pace and pass rivals which would bode well, and the benefit of winning around a sharp track can also stand him in good stead here.
4:35 Epsom – Trustatrader Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-105) – Mirsky 8/1 1pt WIN
MIRSKY recorded his first success for David O’Meara since joining the yard last May when landing a 0-90 at Thirsk off top-weight last month, leading the field from the turn and always looking somewhat in command despite the head success. The next three home were all ridden more reservedly so we upgrade the effort somewhat, and a subsequent 2lbs rise is more than workable.
The Siyouni is still very well treated on a mark of 90, having made his debut for the yard off 98 when an eye-catcher in the Thirsk Hunt Cup, and two starts later he shaped much better than the finishing position suggested when first in his low drain group of two in the Royal Hunt Cup, beaten seven lengths into twelfth. That was off 7lbs higher, and he’s also well handicapped on his half a length second to Thunder Run in the Clipper Handicap at York, with that one now rated 104 having won another York handicap last time out.
He does hold another entry in the Royal Hunt Cup, but he’d likely have to win here to get into that race again and the booking of Oisin Murphy can only bode well, who has a 17% strike rate when teaming up with the yard.
5:10 Epsom – Debenhams Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+ 0-100) – Stanage 8/1 1pt WIN
STANAGE will find this much easier than the Hambleton Handicap he contested when a bet for the column at York last time out, where he fared second best of those to come from the rear despite a good draw in three.
The Kingman gelding took an awfully keen grip there and had already exuded enough energy for him to be prominent in the finish, but it was a testament to his ability that he was only beaten two lengths and the drop back to seven furlongs can only bode well.
He was a good winner off 2lbs higher in the hood at Doncaster on reappearance, and backed that up in a trappy affair at Newmarket over seven furlongs when beaten a length despite not getting a clear run throughout, with the fifth winning well since who’s installed as the favourite here despite a 3lbs inferior weight swing.
He should have plenty of cover from stall one, and his proven ability to handle both left handed and undulating tracks further exudes confidence.
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