Andrew Mount looks to kick off the Derby Festival at Epsom on Friday 5 June on a sparkling note. Our top tipster, who has been in red-hot form this week has four selections for the action, which will take place in front of the ITV Racing cameras.
Epsom Racing Tips (Friday 5 June 2026)
There’s a top class eight-race card at Epsom on Friday, with the feature race being the Group 1 Betfred Oaks at 4pm. Check out Andrew’s four tips for the day here…
2.40 Epsom – Persica (1pt win – 5/2 generally)
Stall 1 might not be idea for Persica if it’s soft enough for the runners come across to the stands’ side rail in the straight but Richard Hannon’s five-year-old is still worth a bet. He won this race 12 months ago – coming from last to first to score by three-quarters of a length from Ice Max with subsequent Queen Anne winner Docklands back in third place – and was successful in the 1m2f handicap at this meeting in 2024. His full record below Group 1 level in Britain/Ireland when returned to the track within eight weeks of his previous outing stands at 1141013111 (7-13) for a profit of £24.50 to a £1 level stake at SP.
3.15 Epsom – Sallaal (1.5pt win – 7/2 William Hill, Coral, Ladbrokes)
Since 2014, ten of the 11 winners of this 1m2f handicap were aged four or five and had prepped in a Class 1 or Class 2 contest. Backing all 64 qualifiers returned a profit of £55.00 to a £1 level stake at SP (+£84.60 at Betfair SP after 2% commission). Sallaal is the obvious one among this year’s six qualifiers (the others are Spoken Truth, Great David, Tycoon, Quai De Bethune and Respond) having gone into plenty of notebooks after his reappearance second over course and distance when given plenty to do. That was also his first start since a gelding operation and there should be plenty of improvement to come in this bigger field.
4.40 Epsom – Celeborn (1pt win – 9/2 generally) & Popmaster (0.5pt e/w – 40/1 generally)
George Boughey’s handicappers often respond well to first-time cheekpieces, landing 19 of their 154 starts (12.3%) for a profit of £8.50 at SP. Those who had the benefit of a relatively recent run (eight weeks or less) and were beaten last time out were 19 from 131 (14.5%) for a profit of £31.50. Course and distance winner Celeborn would have needed his comeback run when fifth to Hand Of God at Newbury last month after a break of 388 days and he gets the headgear for the first time.
I also want a small interest on Popmaster despite reservations about the turning mile. In-form Ed Walker’s veteran has the slow ground in his favour and was a big eyecatcher in the 7f Victoria Cup at Ascot last time, doing second best of those to race on the far side of the track. Nostrum, one place and a neck ahead of him in 14th position, fared best of those drawn very low and he boosted the form when runner-up at Sandown next time.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets Today
2.40 Epsom – Persica (1pt win – 5/2 generally)
3.15 Epsom – Sallaal (1.5pt win – 7/2 William Hill, Coral, Ladbrokes)
4.40 Epsom – Celeborn (1pt win – 9/2 generally) & Popmaster (0.5pt e/w – 40/1 generally)
Andrew Mount’s Horse Racing Tips – Friday 5 June
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- Epsom – first race 13:30
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s racing tips?
Andrew Mount provides his best bets at Epsom.
Which racecourses run on Friday 5 June 2026?
Bath, Doncaster, Epsom, Goodwood, Musselburgh & Thirsk.
Who is Andrew Mount?
Andrew Mount is a leading horse racing adviser, expert pundit and journalist, contributing regularly to the Racing Post, Racing & Football Outlook, Racing Post Weekender and William Hill radio as well as providing a daily tipping column for the GG.co.uk website for more than 20 years. Follow him on X: @TrendHorses
When were today’s Epsom tips published?
Today’s tips were published at 5.45pm on Thursday 4 June 2026.
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