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
A M Balding	64	11	23	£192,084	17.19%	-£0.05
G & J Moore	67	10	28	£135,545	14.93%	-£28.40
R M Beckett	58	9	18	£68,254	15.52%	-£27.60
Eve Johnson Houghton	37	7	14	£38,462	18.92%	-£14.33
J R Boyle	92	6	34	£31,928	6.52%	-£36.00
A P O'Brien	27	6	9	£3,624,624	22.22%	£5.58
R Hannon	49	5	14	£112,068	10.2%	-£21.50
Ian Williams	38	5	12	£37,084	13.16%	-£15.75
K R Burke	32	5	12	£157,920	15.63%	-£4.88
Harry Eustace	22	5	9	£50,108	22.73%	£5.38

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	24	22	£988,967	30%	£36.27
Rossa Ryan	52	9	18	£127,101	17.31%	-£11.75
Rhys Clutterbuck	42	9	12	£45,289	21.43%	£5.21
H Crouch	51	7	21	£48,841	13.73%	-£13.80
Callum Hutchinson	22	7	6	£39,081	31.82%	£11.17
R L Moore	20	6	5	£1,782,014	30%	£3.08
K Shoemark	31	5	10	£92,729	16.13%	-£7.88
R Havlin	26	5	10	£77,027	19.23%	£31.88
P Cosgrave	49	4	18	£30,339	8.16%	-£5.75
David Probert	47	4	17	£23,378	8.51%	-£26.75