Sean Trivass

The 2026 Mr Vegas Nordic Darts Masters kicks off on Friday, as Stephen Bunting aims to become the first player to secure back-to-back titles in the Danish capital.

The rain that has fallen at Epsom this week will have caused connections of most of the runners today and tomorrow some sleepless nights with the majority of form on show on far quicker going.

It won’t surprise anyone when I tell you Aidan O’Brien trains the favourite for the Oaks this afternoon with Amelia Earhart the pick of Ryan Moore as the pair look to win the classic for yet again after success last year with Minnie Hawk, and in 2022 (Tuesday), 2020 (Love), and 2016 (Minding).

The second Group Three on the Epsom card is the mile plus Princess Elizabeth Stakes, a race for filles and mares, and dominated by four-year-olds in the last 10 years with seven winners including the last five in a row, and with the Gosden stable responsible for two of those winners – in 2017 with Laugh Aloud and last year with 9/1 chance Spiritual.

All eyes are on Surrey this afternoon and our first race is what I will always remember as the John Of Gaunt Stakes, a Group Three over seven furlongs and won last year by 5/1 chance Ten Bob Tony for trainer Ed Walker.

The big one, our third English Classic after the 1000 and 2000 Guineas, though this time we step up to a mile and a half at the undulating track that is Epsom.

Viktor Tingstrom stunned reigning champion Stephen Bunting on the opening night of the Mr Vegas Nordic Darts Masters, as Luke Humphries delivered a darting masterclass in Denmark.

Good luck to anyone living in the midlands today with just the two meetings in the UK – one as far South as Goodwood and the other up in Scotland at Perth – they really don’t think things through do they?

Veteran 10-year-old Hamish must be losing a little of his lustre with age (aren’t we all), but connections have persisted with the son of Derby winner Motivator and he rewarded them with three wins from four starts last year.

Just the one over jumps at Perth for me this Sunday afternoon, and for a June meeting I suspect the novice hurdle at 2.17pm could be pretty informative.