Epsom is set to attract a greater crowd on Saturday, with 14 horses declared for the Derby itself on the feature day of the festival.
Matty Sutcliffe has two best bets in the Derby, as well as four more across the card for you to follow on one of the great days in the sport.
Epsom Racing Tips (Saturday 6 June 2026)
It’s Derby day at Epsom, a term which now applies across multiple sports. Matty has six selections, including two in the big race itself.
13:30 Epsom – Betfred Tattenham Corner Stakes (Group 3) (Formerly The John Of Gaunt Stakes) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Never So Brave 6/4 1pt WIN
Never So Brave’s biggest danger may come in the form of Alcantor if this turns into a test of stamina, as the new recruit to the Joseph O’Brien yard hasn’t raced over this short since 2023 though does handle the softer conditions.
That said, if Never So Brave can return to the form of his Group 1 City Of York Stakes win it would be a surprise to see him beat here. The No Nay Never gelding improved his form last season after joining Andrew Balding from Sir Michael Stoute. A nose second at Chester, he was heavily backed to land the Buckingham Palace House Stakes to reverse the form with the Chester weather.
He backed that up in Group 2 company at Ascot, before fending off Lake Forest at York with Rosallion in fourth.
His comeback at Haydock was pleasing enough, as he was far too fresh under Oisin Murphy but still travelled strongly late on, eventually succumbing to those early exertions. Now the cobwebs are blown off, this drop back in trip on a track that’s likely to suit can see him take a large step forward.
14:05 Epsom – Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Sparks Fly 7/2 1pt WIN
Sparks Fly was unlucky not to get closer in this contest last season when ridden quietly from stall eight, staying on strongest of all and certainly handling the track. The majority of her 12 wins have come when either ‘making all’ or ‘prominent’, so this inside draw from stall two, which has thrown up two winners in the last five renewals, should see her run an even better race.
The recent deluge of rain will favour her as she’s a certified mud-lark, and she confirmed wellbeing when posting a huge third in the Huxley Stakes behind Lambourn and Bay City Roller, with the latter subsequently finishing second in the Tattersall’s Gold Cup.
15:15 Epsom – Betfred ‘Dash’ Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Lexington Blitz 13/2 1pt WIN
It’s a surprise that sprinting guru Robert Cowell hasn’t won the Epsom Dash, though narrowly denied in 2024 with Democracy Dilemma. That one’s stablemate Lexington Blitz is given the nod to break that duck after his excellent win at Goodwood last time out.
He was beaten a length into second here over C&D in the 3yo Dash last season, and tumbled down the weights prior to being equipped with first time cheekpieces that saw his record reads 2219 toward the end of the season. His career best effort came at Catterick in a Class Two feature handicap, easily making all.
Gelded in the interim, he made a pleasing return at Musselburgh in the Scottish Sprint Cup that often works out well, won last year by American Affair with Qatar Stakes winner JM Jungle in second.
He looked way ahead of his mark when bolting up two lengths at Goodwood in a 0-105, travelling strongly throughout. That race was run at a strong clip, clocking the lower end of 10 second furlongs early on, but he picked up sharply from the front and won going away. He clocked the fastest final furlong by someway and was only second in the fastest finishing speed percentage, the first came from rear and won last time out.
He was raised 9lbs for his troubles, but justifiably be so and everything points to him running a big race here if he can continue this upward curve.
16:00 Epsom – Betfred Derby (Group 1) (No Geldings) (Class 1) (3yo) – Ancient Egypt 16/1 1pt EW 3 places + Christmas Day 20/1 1pt EW 3 places
Stall 10 has been the most successful stall since they were introduced in 1967 with 12 successes and Ancient Egypt can make it the lucky number 13.
The son of Frankel made a winning debut at Beverley last season in the same contest his stablemate Lazy Griff did, who was second in the Derby a season later. He backed that up under a penalty at Goodwood and did so relatively easily, pulling well clear of the third and demonstrating a large, positive stride in the process.
His progress halted at Newmarket in the Royal Lodge, but he put that behind him on seasonal debut at Newmarket when a two length winner in Listed company. That was a commanding performance in which he lengthened away late on, and the second had a benefit of a run when beaten a neck by Maltese Cross, who won the Lingfield Derby Trial next time out.
By Frankel from the family of Coronation Stakes second Midday and a half sister to a soft ground winner, everything in his pedigree points to him taking to this test and give Amo Racing an elusive first Classic.
I’d also like to chance Christmas Day, as I suspect the jockey booking is the main reason as to why he’s large enough in the market. The majority of his form suggests he should be closer to single prices here.
Behind stablemates Action and Endorsement on his first two starts, he stepped up on heavy ground to land a Gowran Park maiden, with stablemate Causeway five lengths back in fourth who’s 4/4 since.
He backed that up in the G3 Eyrefield Stakes, which often throws up a nice three-year-old, beating subsequent French Derby close A Boy Named Susie. He had that one in behind when winning the Ballysax first time up, as well as the yards Pierre Bonnard and James J Braddock. That pair finished in the opposite order when first and second in the Leopardstown Derby Trial, and Endorsement, who was second to him in the Ballysax, was also third in the Derby Trial.
The Ballysax threw up the winner in Lambourn last season, the third in 2023 with White Birch and the fourth in 2019 with Broome, so it has been a successful trial. He was then perhaps on the unfavourable near side at York behind Item and Action in the Dante, but he stayed on there and being by Camelot out of a Sea The Stars mare with stamina in the pedigree, this test can suit.
16:40 Epsom – Cherryfield (Croydon) Lester Piggott Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (3yo 0-100) – Allegresse 5/1 1pt WIN
Andrew Balding has won three of the nine runnings of this contest and had the second in 2024 with Portsmouth, and he can maintain that record with handicap debutant Allegresse.
The son of Oasis Dream was 2-4 last season including beating a now 93 rated filly by nine lengths at Kempton. His progress came undone when six lengths behind Pierre Bonnard in the Zetland Stakes, but he returned with an excellent effort at Goodwood behind three smart types.
He made all in a conditions stakes that often works out well, collared late on to be a beaten last albeit by two lengths. The winner has an entry in the St James Palace and took his record to 2-2, the second was rated 104 and now 109 after beaten four lengths into third by Gstaad in the Irish 2000 Guineas, and the 103 rated third backed that effort up when third again off top-weight in a Goodwood handicap given 7lbs and 18lbs to the two in front of him.
While he is 0-3 on turf, he’s from an excellent Kirsten Rausing family that’s produced a platitude of high class winners on turf and given he’s unchanged on a mark of 93, a reproduction of last time out should see him go close.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Tips for Saturday 6 June
13:30 Epsom – Betfred Tattenham Corner Stakes (Group 3) (Formerly The John Of Gaunt Stakes) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Never So Brave 6/4 1pt WIN
14:05 Epsom – Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Sparks Fly 7/2 1pt WIN
15:15 Epsom – Betfred ‘Dash’ Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Lexington Blitz 13/2 1pt WIN
16:00 Epsom – Betfred Derby (Group 1) (No Geldings) (Class 1) (3yo) – Ancient Egypt 16/1 1pt EW 3 places + Christmas Day 20/1 1pt EW 3 places
16:40 Epsom – Cherryfield (Croydon) Lester Piggott Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (3yo 0-100) – Allegresse 5/1 1pt WIN
Never So Brave
Sparks FlyFAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets at Epsom on Saturday 6 June.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 4.55pm on Thursday 4 June.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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