2022 Epsom Handicap tips & betting strategy | Saturday, October 1

The time-honoured Epsom Handicap (1600m) has been taken out by many a Group 1 superstar, and each of the 12 runners in this weekend’s field will be looking to etch their name alongside some of the greats.

Online bookmakers have installed last start George Main Stakes runner-up Icebath ($4.20) as favourite, while the highly touted Top Ranked ($4.50) looks to be a big threat based off his last-start win in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap. Chris Waller’s Hinged ($6) and the ever-consistent Cross Talk ($9) round out the runners at a single-figure quote for the Epsom.

The obvious leader looks to be Cross Talk from the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott yard, while Ellsberg and Hinged will most likely follow the leader wherever they go. Market fancies Icebath, Top Ranked and Fangirl will all most likely settle towards the rear of the field.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2022 Epsom Handicap.

The Annabel Neasham-trained Top Ranked has long been touted as a potential star of the turf, and a win on Saturday will only help those claims. He has hard three starts since coming to Australia in mid-2021, finishing third in The Hunter, fifth beaten 1.4 lengths in a Chipping Norton Stakes behind Verry Elleegant, and a soft victory last time out in the Bill Ritchie Handicap on September 17. The six-year-old son of Dark Angel needed to bide his time in the Bill Ritchie until clear running appeared inside the final 300m, but once the run came, he quickly pounced and got the better of Purple Sector and put two lengths on Cross Talk, who he meets again in this. Despite the handy draw of barrier four, look for Hugh Bowman to have this bloke settled midfield with cover. If he reproduces a similar final furlong or so to what he did last time, then Top Ranked is sure to take some beating. The $4.50 on offer with some Australian betting sites looks to be a nice price to take.

Hinged gave a sight out in front in the George Main Stakes when beaten just over a length by Anamoe and Icebath, and considering she gets a 3kg weight swing on Icebath in the Epsom, she is sure to be in the finish once more. Having not missed the top three in three third-up runs in her career thus far, we know she will handle the occasion and she’s sure to appreciate the cut in the turf. With just 51.5kg in the saddle, Kerrin McEvoy should look to be aggressive early and have this girl settled either outside Cross Talk or just on his heels. She is as honest a mare as you could hope for, and with a light weight and the want to be settled close to the speed, Hinged looks to be the key danger in Saturday’s Epsom.

Fangirl simply never saw clear air when it mattered most in the George Main and must be considered. It is wetter the better for Brad Widdup’s Icebath, who will be looking to break her Group 1 maiden at her ninth attempt having been placed at the highest level on five separate occasions.

2022 Epsom Handicap selections & best bets

• 1

  TOP RANKED

• 8

  HINGED

• 6

  FANGIRL

• 5

  ICEBATH

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