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A round-up of the early action from this afternoon's meeting at Epsom Downs

Caspian Prince ridden by Adam Kirby at Epsom
Image: Caspian Prince ridden by Adam Kirby at Epsom

Caspian Prince continued his progress up the sprinting tree in the Investec Wealth & Investment Handicap at Epsom.

Twice a winner on the All-Weather since arriving with Tony Carroll just before Christmas, the 13-2 chance was soon up with the pace and Adam Kirby only had Elusivity for company.

With the rail to help, Caspian Prince was drawn right against it, he ended up quickening two and a quarter lengths clear in a race which is often a pipe-opener for the Investec Dash on Derby Day.

"He's a bullet," said Kirby. "He didn't break well so I had to rush him to get up with the pace. If they get four and a half furlongs, they get five here."

John Yates, Carroll's travelling head lad, said: "I believe the plan is to come back over course and distance for the Dash on Derby Day."

Beacon Lady (14-1) only ever shows her best form on the severe cambers of Brighton and Epsom but few would have expected her to win the Investec Great Metropolitan Handicap quite as easily as she did.

William Knight's mare is quirky in both temperament and running style and she suddenly appeared from the rear of the field with a couple of furlongs left before charging seven lengths clear under Jack Duern. She had struck twice at the Brighton August meeting before claiming the Amateur Derby over course and distance. 

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"She never shows an awful lot at home, so I'm surprised by that," said Knight. "She's too high in the handicap at Brighton and she likes it here as the saddling boxes are quite a long way away so I expect we'll come back for the mile and a half handicap on Derby Day."

Owners The Pro Claimers are also keen to explore sending her hurdling at some stage while Liam Jones was given a three-day careless riding ban aboard Jakey (May 7-9).

Sennockian Star (12-1) was ultra-consistent during a busy season in 2013 and he returned to the winner's enclosure to secure a good prize in the Investec Property Investments City And Suburban Handicap.

A low draw was a crucial factor in the long-established mile and a quarter event, and stall three helped Silvestre De Sousa to be on the rail and up with the pace throughout. Responding to the requests of his pilot, the chestnut finished up a length and a quarter in front of Clayton.

With Mark Johnston paying a rare visit to Perth after a British Horseracing Authority meeting, the trainer was represented by wife Deirdre, who said: "He was fantastic last season, winning five times, and we were worried he was going up and up in the handicap but he's come and pulled another one out of the bag.

"We'll just have to wait and see what the handicapper does now."

Royal winners tend to come in The Queen's purple silks but there was one in the red and blue of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall as their home-bred Ravenous (5-2) bounded clear in the Investec Specialist Cash Products Maiden Stakes.

"I was disappointed with him last time at Doncaster but he didn't look great," said trainer Ralph Beckett. "He's got the profile to be a fun horse in handicaps for the summer and that will boost his confidence."

Alan King and owner Peter Andrews have a smart jumper in Smad Place and Chatez (7-2 favourite) continued his progress in the Investec Specialist Bank Handicap.

King's assistant trainer Oliver Wardle said: "Hopefully we can have some fun with him on the Flat in the summer and maybe he has a future hurdling when he finishes that, but we'll see."

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