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Folkswood & Laugh Aloud after G3 honours on Derby Day

Racenews

Four-year-olds Folkswood and Laugh Aloud go for a first G3 success in the two main Derby Day supporting races at Epsom Downs, UK, on Saturday June 3. 

Folkswood (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), who runs in the Diomed Stakes (15.10hrs local time) over an extended mile, has won or been placed on 10 of his 11 starts and heads to the iconic Surrey course on the back of a clear third in the G3 Huxley Stakes over two furlongs further at Chester on May 11. 

The son of Exceed And Excel was runner-up in the nine-furlong G3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket on April 19 and went down by a neck to Decorated Knight in the G1 Jebel Hatta Sponsored by Emirates Airline over the same distance at Meydan, UAE, in March. 

He faces seven opponents, including G2 winners Sovereign Debt, Custom Cut, Kool Company and Here Comes When, from stall five.

Charlie Appleby said: “Folkswood has put up two solid performances since returning from Dubai and goes into this race in good order.

“I think that the track will suit him and the drop back in distance is not a concern.”

Laugh Aloud (John Gosden/James Doyle) also lines up over an extended mile in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes (14.35hrs local time) and makes her G3 debut following a convincing all-the-way victory in a Listed race over a mile at Goodwood on May 6. 

That was a second Listed success for the Dubawi filly, who also made all of the running to score impressively over a mile at Newmarket in October. 

John Gosden commented: “Laugh Aloud continues in good form since her last race and she will go well on Saturday if handling the track.”

Laugh Aloud is drawn five and her 10 rivals feature recent Newmarket G2 runner-up Elbereth, last season’s G1 Dubai Fillies’ Mile third Urban Fox and prolific All-Weather winner Absolute Blast.