The Epsom Derby takes centre stage on Saturday afternoon and our team of tipsters and writers have had their say on who will come out on top in the famous Group 1 Classic. Check out their thoughts below, along with a new customer sign-up at Betfred, who are offering new customers a Bet £10 – Get £60 In Free Bets Bonus.
Daryl Carter
My idea of the winner here is WALK OF STARS, who has progressed with each start so far this season and is a horse of immense talent. Although he was beaten by stablemate United Nations in the Lingfield Derby Trial last time out, he has said to have come on plenty following that narrow defeat where inexperience ultimately cost him. I’m confident he will take a big step forward this weekend as he moves up in trip. I’ve also tipped up Star Of India and Masakela at a much bigger price.
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Andrew Mount
I’ve backed two in here at big prices, starting with Charlie Hills’ SONNY LISTON who is bred to appreciate this longer trip after finishing third behind Star Of India on his latest outing at Chester. The yard are in good form at the moment and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this son of Lawman sneak into the frame.
My other fancy is Andrew Balding’s runner, HOO YA MAL who should also be suited by stepping up to a mile and a half. A keen sort, his only victory came when defeating Dawn Of Liberation in a sixteen runner maiden at York last season after coming from well off the pace.
A respectable third to Native Trail on his comeback at Newmarket, he was then too keen once again when finishing behind Nations Pride last time out. A big field and strong pace should ideally suit him if he learns to settle early from a good draw in stall 3, and it’s worth noting that the same connections had a 50/1 second a couple of years ago in the form of Khalifa Sat.
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Kate Tracy
STAR OF INDIA is my selection in the Derby at a very tempting each-way price. Although it’s a bit of a cliché, I think you’re going to need a horse with plenty of stamina to prevail in this year’s renewal and Aidan O’Brien’s colt is as genuine as they come and will hopefully just keep on finding for pressure.
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Joe Eccles
Desert Crown looked better the further he went in last month’s Dante and with further improvement likely is sure to play his part in proceedings. I wouldn’t be too keen to row in at such skinny odds, however, given his lack of experience, and at the prices, I’m struggling to get away from CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD.
The Chester Vase winner appears to have improved a great deal both mentally and physically from 2 to 3 and whilst this is undoubtedly his toughest test to date, he looks an each-way bet to nothing with proven stamina in the locker and the potential for more now cheekpieces go on. Royal Patronage is one of the more interesting outsiders given he’s a course winner who is expected to revert back to prominent tactics.
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Jordan Arksey
Galileo has sired five winners of the Epsom Classic and is represented by three live contenders this weekend, all for leading Derby trainer Aidan O’Brien, who will be looking for his ninth success in the famous Group 1 event.
Both Changingoftheguard and Star Of India were impressive winners at Chester’s May Festival last month but they’ll both have to go some to get the better of stablemate STONE AGE who has taken a huge step forward from 2 to 3 this year and has been faultless in his two outings this season.
Unable to get off the mark in five starts as a juvenile last season, Aidan O’Brien’s strapping colt has found the winner’s enclosure on both starts this term, thumping his rivals from the front on his seasonal reappearance at Navan before producing another impressive display when running away with the Group 3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown on his latest start. The three-year-old son of Galileo is straightforward, has plenty of experience on his side and is bred to be even better as he steps up in trip this weekend.
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Joe Napier
I hope Desert Crown is a champion, but in what is set to be a big field, he does not represent great value at shorter than 2/1. One whose price I cannot understand is CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD, who has won both his starts this term, including the Chester Vase, with consummate ease.
There may have been a very small field in that Classic trial, but the runner-up, beaten 6½ lengths, had previously been an ante-post favourite for the Derby in New London. Changingoftheguard simply ground him into submission and while he looks set to be the stable’s number two, that does not bother me in the slightest, especially as he is a son of Galileo.
There may also be value in the price of Westover for those seeking greater value; remember four of the last five Derby winners have gone off at 16/1 or bigger.
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