Not So Sleepy aiming for back-to-back wins in Oaks prelude

3.45 Epsom
Investec Wealth & Investment Handicap | 1m2f | ITV1/ RUK

Last year's first and fifth are set to renew rivalry in the prelude to the Investec Oaks, but the ground will be somewhat different to the good of 12 months ago, when Hughie Morrison-trained Not So Sleepy prevailed.

Resurge (2011 and 2013) was a recent dual winner of this race and six-year-old Not So Sleepy is back down to the mark off which he accounted for Innocent Touch by a neck in 2017.

Back in fifth that day was Brorocco, who was sent off favourite but had excuses when getting a troubled passage before finishing with a rare flourish when it was too late.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Brorocco, said: "He's a course and distance winner and was unlucky in the race last year. This has been the plan with him all along but I don't know about the ground as he's run only once on soft previously and disappointed. We'll see how it's riding in the earlier races and make a call."

King Varian

Ajman King: won the City & Suburban Handicap over course and distance last monthCredit: Mark Cranham

Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni teamed up to win this in 2014 with the progressive Farraaj and look to have a similar type on their hands in the shape of Ajman King.

The flashy chestnut could be called the winner some way out in the prestigious City & Suburban Handicap over course and distance last month, when he comfortably accounted for the reopposing Innocent Touch (third) and Emenem (seventh).

The son of Lope De Vega is now bidding for a four-timer after back to back wins last October and has caught the eye in his recent homework.

Varian said: "He handles soft ground well so underfoot conditions will play to his strengths, while a 5lb rise for his win here last month looks very fair given the track position we occupied and how the form has worked out subsequently."

Dow double-handed

Local trainer Simon Dow is best placed for a weather update ahead of the two-day Derby meeting and has all bases covered as his pair Emenem and Native Fighter prefer contrasting ground.

He said: "Emenem didn't run so well on soft when he last tried it and all of his best form is on fast ground.

"On the other hand, Native Fighter wants it as wet and as loose as it can get so there's something for everybody."

What the others say

Ed Dunlop, trainer of Dark Red
He has form at the track and ran well to be fourth in this two years ago. He won't mind the ground but Ajman King looks hard to beat.

Richard Fahey, trainer of Another Touch
We’re very happy with him, but I can’t see how he can turn round the form with Roger Varian’s horse.

Ian Williams, trainer of Banditry
He always runs his race and goes there with a respectable each-way chance. He should be okay on the ground.

Stuart Williams,trainer of Maratha
It's just a question of whether he can transfer his progression on the all-weather on to turf. We're guessing a bit on the ground as he's never run on soft before.

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