Sam King is back with three selections after finding the winners’ enclosure with his final wager yesterday evening.

The Epsom Oaks and Derby meeting has arrived, although the weather doesn't look like it's going to completely play ball, with heavy showers meaning the ground is currently described as good, good-to-soft in places. There are further showers in the offering over the course of the two days, so it wouldn't be surprising should the ground be on the soft side at some point.

In the big one this afternoon, I'm absolutely certain that Desert Flower is the class act in the field, but just like everyone else, we won't know if she stays the mile and a half until it's all too late from a punting perspective. I'm in a nice position on her ante-post but if forced into having a wager on the day, I'd be more inclined to side with Revoir, who represents a two-time winning Oaks handler in Ralph Beckett.

The best bet on the card comes in the extended one-mile handicap following the Oaks at 4.35, with Ebt's Guard sticking out as one who must have a serious chance from stall three.

Trained by William Muir & Chris Grassick, Ebt's Guard posted a clear career best to land the valuable Spring Cup at Newbury on his reappearance before producing a lesser effort in the Victoria Cup at Ascot second time out this season.

However, he quickly put that outing behind him when third in a competitive handicap at Newbury recently, leaving the impression that a mark in the high 90s wasn't beyond him. The winner that day, My Cloud, looked like something of a handicap blot and is favourite for the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot, while the runner-up Boyfriend has since gone one better for Richard Hannon to give the form a boost.

He ran well on his sole visit to Epsom back in 2023 and with the ground no problem (proven on soft), this likeable four-year-old is taken to return to winning ways.

1pt Win – Ebt's Guard

Odds – 6/1

Charlie Appleby's expensive purchase Maximized could be a cut above these in the Betfred British EBF Woodcote Stakes at 2.05, but he looks short enough in the betting at 5/4 following his Haydock debut success and preference is for Havana Hurricane, who also made a winning start.

Well-backed before the off, Eve Johnson-Houghton's colt travelled powerfully down the hill at Goodwood before picking up in taking style to decisively get the better of the reopposing Logi Bear. Richard Hannon's charge has since gone one spot better in impressive fashion at Newmarket, while the third-place horse has also scored since, giving the form some substance.

It's also worth noting that Eve Johnson-Houghton won this two years ago with a similar type, so it's likely this race has been earmarked from an early stage.

His initial experience at Goodwood will stand him in good stead at Epsom and although he'll probably need to be sharper from the gates in stall one, this son of Havana Gold should have bundles more to offer now stepping up to six furlongs for the first time.

1pt Win – Havana Hurricane

Odds – 3/1

Last year's one-time Derby hopeful Defiance shouldn't mind ease in the ground having made a winning debut on good-to-soft at Sandown in 2023.

It's fair to say this nicely-bred son of Camelot was a touch disappointing last season following his promising second to the now-112 rated Bellum Justum in the Blue Riband Derby Trial over ten furlongs here in April. He failed to back that promise up in either the Lingfield equivalent or the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot but clearly has the ability to make hay off this opening rating of 99 now switched to handicap company.

Trained by Roger Varian, who has landed this prize in 2018, 2019 and 2022, Defiance found himself gelded not long after his Royal Ascot flop and that could make all the difference back from a break this afternoon.

The Highclere Racing-owned four-year-old still has time under his belt following just six career outings and if back to anywhere near his best, this initial rating of 99 could prove lenient as he drops back to ten furlongs with Silvestre De Sousa doing the steering from stall seven.

1pt Win – Defiance

Odds – 4/1