Epsom Downs Course Guide

Many consider Epsom’s famous switchback course to be the ultimate test of a thoroughbred. Runners over the Derby and Oaks distance of a mile and a half face a steep uphill climb followed by a demanding turning descent, they turn right then left and, in the home straight have to overcome a pronounced camber and a stiff last furlong to the line. It ought to produce freak results but, as 250 years of history have demonstrated, Epsom invariably identifies the best colts and fillies of their generation.

The Derby meeting – now slimmed down to two days – is the undoubted highlight of Epsom’s calendar, where other feature races include the Group 1 Coronation Cup, the Diomed Stakes, Woodcote Stakes and the five furlong ‘Dash’. The spring meeting in late April boasts two valuable and historic handicaps in the Grand Metropolitan and City and Suburban together with the Blue Riband Trial, while the rest of the Epsom season consists of enjoyable evening racing and a popular bank holiday fixture in August.

Flat Racing

Left handed, undulating. A 'U' shaped course, which, due to its bends, camber and pronounced downhill gradients, very much favours the handy type. Races up to eight and a half furlongs are very sharp, meaning those ridden prominently hold an advantage. The five-furlong course is fastest in the world, downhill virtually throughout, and as such an early prominent pitch is essential. In testing conditions, the runners tend to switch towards the stands-side rail for the better ground.

Balance is at a premium for a horse racing around Epsom and it’s not merely a question of size. Big ones and small ones have it - and some just don’t. Whatever they’re like physically, though, they need to handle the hills, turns and cambers, as this track tests every muscle. Runners really get rolling round Tattenham Corner and, while people say suspect stayers can last home over middle distances, I reckon you have to stay the trip thoroughly to win. A sure-footed speedster is needed for the sprints.

View from the saddle: Jason Weaver

Epsom Downs Top Times
Last 5 years

Flat

Distance	Horse (Going)	Date	Winning time
5f	Tees Spirit (Good)	04 Jun 2022	54.15s
6f 3y	Badri (Good to Firm)	03 Jun 2023	1m 6.94s
7f 3y	Olivia Maralda (Good to Firm)	02 Jun 2023	1m 21.03s
1m 113y	Bashkirova (Good)	04 Jun 2022	1m 43.06s
1m 2f 17y	Cadillac (Good to Firm)	02 Jun 2023	2m 5.51s
1m 4f 6y	Emily Upjohn (Good to Firm)	02 Jun 2023	2m 33.78s

Epsom Downs Top Trainers
Last 3 years (ordered by number of winners)

Flat

Trainer	Runners	Wins	Places	Prize Money	Strike-Rate	P/L
G & J Moore	64	11	25	£104,837	17.19%	-£22.90
A M Balding	65	11	23	£158,829	16.92%	-£6.05
R M Beckett	52	8	15	£112,448	15.38%	-£24.10
J & T Gosden	24	7	5	£688,895	29.17%	£6.31
R Varian	25	6	11	£75,059	24%	-£5.63
A West	32	6	10	£29,714	18.75%	£30.25
G Boughey	26	6	8	£132,259	23.08%	£30.88
A P O'Brien	22	6	7	£3,510,406	27.27%	£7.08
J R Boyle	94	5	36	£46,968	5.32%	-£61.50
R Hannon	51	5	17	£115,356	9.8%	-£24.50

Epsom Downs Top Jockeys
Last 3 years (ordered by number of winners)

Flat

Jockey	Runners	Wins	Places	Prize Money	Strike-Rate	P/L
Oisin Murphy	80	20	24	£285,176	25%	£12.23
Rossa Ryan	56	9	21	£123,477	16.07%	-£15.67
Rhys Clutterbuck	44	9	10	£78,710	20.45%	£30.33
R L Moore	23	8	6	£2,724,506	34.78%	£11.58
P Cosgrave	56	5	21	£55,228	8.93%	-£19.15
H Crouch	36	5	15	£37,372	13.89%	-£14.55
Callum Shepherd	26	5	9	£28,999	19.23%	£8.69
R Kingscote	34	4	14	£34,165	11.76%	-£8.77
J Mitchell	22	4	9	£54,523	18.18%	-£5.68
Billy Loughnane	21	4	8	£22,125	19.05%	-£6.75