June 03 / 12.50 Epsom

12.50

Good

Betfred Diomed Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £56710
  • 1m 0f 113y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
Betfred Diomed Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.85

Form: 2815-4

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Solid Group 3 performer, successful four times (over 1m/1m2f) at this level, most recently at Windsor last August; seemed to need his Newmarket reappearance (behind Highland Avenue) and should be closer to concert pitch now; big chance on peak form and his age looks no barrier to Diomed success, as 8yos have won this race six times this century.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(1)

7th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 0f 37y

Class 1

13:15 Haydock

Regal Reality

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Sir Michael Stoute

9yo who hasn't been at his very best this year and can be slowly away; however, this five-time Group 3 winner has still shown considerable spark in 2024, including here last time, and he may well be in the mix.

9/2

3rd

6

(4)

10th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 100y

Class 1

15:00 Haydock

Regal Reality

9st 7lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Sir Michael Stoute

in touch with leaders early

12/1

5/4

  • Place: £1.55

Form: 8/89-3 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Progressive for much of his 2021 season then had a dip in his form; finished third to high-class stablemate Adayar in the rescheduled Gordon Richards Stakes at Newmarket (1m2f; back from 14-month absence) on 2023 reappearance, showing that he retains plenty of ability and shaping as if this drop back in trip will prove ideal; leading player if building on that effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found
OUR TIP
3rd
6 (2)
Kolsai

11/4

Form: 21-22 BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 3yo who has a solid record, with form figures of 2122; met some traffic on his way to finishing second in a conditions stakes at Goodwood (1m) most recently and held Group 1 entries at the time of that effort behind a smart-looking winner who has St James's Palace hopes; bred to rate higher still, being from an excellent family; hood (worn all starts) is removed; gets a big weight-for-age allowance and commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(2)

3rd Jun 2023

Good

1m 0f 113y

Class 1

12:50 Epsom

Kolsai

8st 10lb

J: David Egan

T: Roger Varian

Unexposed 3yo who has a solid record, with form figures of 2122; met some traffic on his way to finishing second in a conditions stakes at Goodwood (1m) most recently and held Group 1 entries at the time of that effort behind a smart-looking winner who has St James's Palace hopes; bred to rate higher still, being from an excellent family; hood (worn all starts) is removed; gets a big weight-for-age allowance and commands respect.

11/4

2nd

4

(6)

5th May 2023

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:45 Goodwood

Kolsai

9st 2lb

J: David Egan

T: Roger Varian

7f maiden winner at Newmarket last September; much-improved display on his reappearance in the 1m1f Feilden Stakes at Newmarket, surging to the front over 1f out but picked off in the final furlong by a promising colt; dropping back to 1m shouldn't be a problem; leading claims.

10/11

2nd

8

(2)

19th Apr 2023

Soft

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Kolsai

9st 2lb

J: David Egan

T: Roger Varian

Irish 2,000 Guineas entry; dam unraced half-sister to 1m2f Group 1 winner Izzi Top, plus smart pair Jazzi Top and Emaraaty, out of 1m2f Group 1-winning half-sister to Kayf Tara and Opera House; hooded both starts; beaten a nose at Leicester and went one better in a maiden here (again 7f on good) later in September, again travelling best before having to battle; very promising representative of trainer who won this race with one at 22-1 last year.

14/1

8/1

Form: 810-34

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Good performer down the years but his best winning form has come in competitive handicaps and this small-field stakes scenario probably isn't ideal, as two defeats in this contest demonstrate (fifth in 2021, fourth in 2022).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(6)

20th Dec 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Escobar

9st 6lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

steadied start, towards rear

10/1

9th

8

(8)

9th Dec 2023

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 2

18:15 Newcastle (AW)

Escobar

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

sweating, dwelt start, midfield on near side of group

14/1

8th

7

(11)

27th Oct 2023

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 2

18:45 Wolverhampton (AW)

Escobar

9st 3lb

J: Neil Callan

T: David O’Meara

Veteran who's become hard to win with and been on the downgrade this year, coming 22lb down the weights; late in the day to be making his Tapeta debut in a new form of headgear and will need some luck if dropped in as usual from stall 11.

12/1

Form: 330-65

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
0-8 since debut win but capable of very useful form, notably third in last year's Irish 2,000 Guineas, and two below-par efforts this term can be excused to an extent (raced alone in Group 2 latest); trainer won this race in 2004, 2012 and 2016; interesting contender, assuming he's on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

(8)

26th May 2026

Standard

1m 0f 0y

17:07 Dundalk (AW)

Imperial Fighter

9st 1lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: Patrick J McKenna

Well exposed but won on Tapeta at Wolverhampton last year; second to a subsequent improver over C&D in January; poor form since.

33/1

8th

3

(6)

23rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 0y

18:45 Dundalk (AW)

Imperial Fighter

9st 12lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: Patrick J McKenna

Two minor wins on Flat in Britain; failed to build on C&D second in January; best of six subsequent runs when fourth in C&D claimer; well beaten here (7f) on latest; new headgear is tried now.

25/1

9th

4

(13)

10th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 0y

18:50 Dundalk (AW)

Imperial Fighter

10st 0lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Patrick J McKenna

Two minor wins on the Flat in Britain; failed to build on a second placing over 1m here in January; best of four subsequent runs when fourth in a claimer; down the field over hurdles last time.

12/1

12/1

Form: -60052 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 8lb

7 yo Horse

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Nearly made all in York handicap (1m2f) two weeks ago, posting his clear best effort of 2023; however, he's now 0-20 for current yard and faces a harder task back at Group level; sixth in this race in 2021.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(6)

14th Oct 2023

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 4

16:45 York

Maries Diamond

10st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

led, headed under 3f out, kept on until no extra inside final 110yds

20/1

10th

2

(4)

7th Sep 2023

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 3

19:45 Wolverhampton (AW)

Maries Diamond

9st 8lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

Ran a cracker from the front at York in May (extended 1m2f) and he turns up here off a 7lb lower mark after some struggles in classy company; ran well in one start at this track and a more positive showing is expected in this weaker race.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.60
Straight Forecast £14.99
Trifecta £58.70

Selections

POSTDATA:

Highland Avenue

SPOTLIGHT:

Kolsai

RP RATINGS:

Regal Reality

The Times:

Kolsai

Telegraph:

Kolsai

D Express:

Kolsai

NEWMARKET:

Highland Avenue

The Guardian:

Highland Avenue

The Sun:

Highland Avenue

The Star:

Highland Avenue

Daily Record:

Highland Avenue

TOPSPEED:

Regal Reality

Daily Mail:

Regal Reality

Daily Mirror:

Regal Reality