Investec Specialist Bank Dash
Heritage Handicap, Epsom 15:45
£100,000 added,
3yo plus,
5f, Class 2  
Saturday 6th June 2015

1 Desert Law 16/1
2 Monsieur Joe 12/1
3 Boom The Groom 20/1
4 Steps 12/1
5 Seeking Magic 7/1jf
20 ran Distances: 1l, nk, hd
TIME 54.65s (fast by 0.25s)

Trainer Paul Midgley saddled the first two home as Desert Law sprinted home to beat stablemate Monsieur Joe by a length.

Desert Law
© Racehorse Photos
Desert Law

The winner was always travelling powerfully under jockey Martin Lane and the pair put daylight between themselves and their rivals in the final furlong as the field thundered toward the winning post.

Monsieur Joe battled on well to finish second, a neck ahead of Boom The Groom in third.

“It was a grand result,” said Midgley.

“It’s excellent to see them both run so well. I could have cried when the draw came out (Desert Law was drawn away from the stands’ rail in stall one) as Desert Law was the one I fancied the most.

“As soon as I saw stall one, I thought we couldn’t win. I then looked back over the past few years, trying to find something that could point to us running well and, while a few have been placed low, nothing had done it from stall one.

“The surprising thing was how well Monsieur Joe travelled through the race so I was really pleased with that. I thought Desert Law could be really well handicapped. He was a very good horse but just lost his way a bit.

“He looks cheap now doesn’t he? We were going to buy him when Godolphin bought him (in October 2012) but they blew us out of the water with fancy money. We took a bit of punt on him when he was put up for sale again and it’s all worked out nicely.

“To come down here with runners on Derby Day is a real privilege but to walk away with first and second is a fairytale.

“I’d imagine Desert Law could go for the Rockingham (at the Curragh) at the end of this month – if the handicapper is kind to him that is! Monsieur Joe could follow him or could go a different route but we’ll have to see. We’ll keep firing some darts at the board and see what happens.”

Jockey Martin Lane said: “If truth be told, I did everything wrong. Paul said sit handy with loads of cover and half-way back in the middle of the track but he was hanging left quite badly down the camber. He was the best horse on the day and he has done it really nicely."

Mathematician Betting

Investec Specialist Bank 'Dash' (Heritage Handicap)
£100,000 added, 3yo plus, 5f, Class 2
20 ran
Going: Good to Firm

Pos Dr Dst Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st (1) Desert Law (IRE) 16/1 Martin Lane
8-5
P T Midgley 7
2nd (7) 1 Monsieur Joe (IRE) (ex4) 12/1 T P Queally
9-6
P T Midgley 8
3rd (18) nk Boom The Groom (IRE) 20/1 L Morris
9-2
A W Carroll 4
4th (5) hd Steps (IRE) 12/1 Jim Crowley
9-10
R Varian 7
5th (11) Seeking Magic 7/1j Oisin Murphy
8-9
C G Cox 7
6th (2) ½ Smoothtalkin-rascal (IRE) 25/1 Hayley Turner
8-3
P Crate 5
7th (3) ¾ Monumental Man 14/1 David Probert
8-8
J W Unett 6
8th (10) hd Burning Thread (IRE) 33/1 J F Egan
8-5
D R C Elsworth 8
9th (12) ½ Humidor (IRE) 20/1 P Cosgrave
9-0
George Baker 8
10th (19) nk Barnet Fair 9/1 Kieren Fox
8-11
D Nicholls 7
11th (8) hd Normal Equilibrium 16/1 Edward Greatrex (7)
9-1
R M H Cowell 5
12th (9) ½ Pearl Acclaim (IRE) 25/1 P M Quinn
8-3
D Nicholls 5
13th (4) 1 Chiclet (IRE) 8/1 C D Hayes
8-8
T Collins 4
14th (16) Perfect Muse 7/1j Cam Hardie (3)
8-5
C G Cox 5
15th (13) nk Free Zone 33/1 Adam Beschizza
8-5
R M H Cowell 6
16th (17) nk Confessional 16/1 R Kingscote
8-9
T D Easterby 8
17th (14) Caspian Prince (IRE) 17/2 A Kirby
9-10
A W Carroll 6
18th (6) ½ Secret Missile 33/1 S Hitchcott
8-4
G L Moore 5
19th (20) Silvanus (IRE) 16/1 R Hughes
8-12
P T Midgley 10
20th (15) 8 Duke Of Firenze 16/1 M Harley
9-3
R M H Cowell 6

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