It’s a bumper eight-race card at Epsom on Derby day with the showpiece 2025 Betfred Derby taking place at 3:30pm. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers picks out his best bets for Epsom on Saturday, which includes a selection in the Derby. Check out his Epsom tips for Saturday here…
1:00pm Epsom – Princess Elizabeth Stakes
David Menuisier’s SIRONA made a pleasing return when fourth in a fillies’ Listed event at Goodwood last month, but the five-year-old mare can build on that effort on Saturday with victory in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom at 1:00pm. She already has a Listed win on her CV having stormed to victory at Newmarket last season and she looks more than capable of landing this Group 3 prize with Ryan Moore in the saddle.
That aforementioned win at Flat HQ came in heavy going, so every drop of rain that hits Epsom over the next day or so will aid her chances and she could be one that relishes the soft underfoot conditions. The likes of Skellet, Royal Dress, and Bright Thunder are notable rivals in a really trapping curtain-raiser, but Sirona can outclass her rivals and land the prize.
2:45pm Epsom – Aston Martin ‘Dash’ Handicap
A real highlight on Derby day is the Dash at 2:45pm and this year’s renewal looks another hugely competitive event with the likes of the in-form pair of JM Jungle and Jer Batt sure to prove popular with punters. However, that pair are worth taking on with FAIR WIND, who has his quirks, but is a real classy sprint handicapper on his day.
Having refused to race two starts ago, the Owen Burrows-trained five-year-old then fluffed his lines at the start on his last outing, but if he is in the right mood then he could be well handicapped off a mark of 93. He landed an Ascot contest off a mark of 90 and with some decent form in soft going he’s one that could be very tough to beat, providing he doesn’t get up to his usual antics at the start.
3:30pm Epsom – Betfred Derby (In Honour Of His Highness Aga Khan IV)
A huge field of 19 three-year-olds will line up for the 2025 Betfred Derby and this year’s contest is one of the most competitive races in recent times. Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix looks to be the first string for Ballydoyle with Ryan Moore taking the ride, but stablemate THE LION IN WINTER can down his rival and bounce back from a real flop in the Dante Stakes at York.
O’Brien’s premier juvenile last season, The Lion In Winter was ante-post favourite for the Derby throughout the winter, but a setback saw him miss the Guineas, while a heavy defeat to Pride Of Arras at York saw him drift markedly in the betting. Now, we have seen both Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy in recent years flop in their comeback run and go on to win the Derby and The Lion In Winter could follow that path.
There’s no doubting he has to bounce back from that flat York run, but O’Brien’s stars can often need their first run and he can surely come on leaps and bounds here. He should have no problem seeing out the Derby trip and if he can recapture some of his two-year-old form then he’s too big a price to let run unbacked.
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