It’s finally time for the biggest and most historical flat race of the year with The Derby setting off on Saturday – in which the first running of the race was back in 1780.
It hosts two Classics of British racing, The Oaks on Friday for fillies over 1m4f and The Derby on the Saturday also over 1m4f for colts in a race that has seen interest worldwide ever since.
talkSPORT BET – Bet £10 Get £30 free bets – CLAIM HERE*
The first legs of the Classics came at Newmarket last month with the 1000 Guineas and the 2000 Guineas in a similar fashion to this weekend’s Oaks and Derby in which fillies and colts take part in separate races over the same distance.
The Derby itself attracts viewership from around the world and has continually got reach in the UK with each renewal sparking more and more interest in the race.
The first ever edition of The Oaks was run a year earlier than the Derby, in 1979.
In 1780 the first running of The Derby, was won by Diomed a colt owned by Sir Charles Bunbury who scooped prize money of £1,065.
This year’s winner however, will land £918,702 where the maximum of 20 runners have been sorted ahead of the final declarations on Wednesday.
It’s wide open this year with prices starting at around 3/1 on Delacroix, while Godolphin’s entry with trainer Charlie Appleby is right up there too.
However, none are the huge outright favourites. That does follow a recent trend though where City Of Troy who was 3/1 favourite won in 2024 and Desert Crown in 2022 who won as the 5/2 favourite.
The shortest price favourite to win in the last 11 renewals was Australia at 11/8 in 2014 for none other than Aidan O’Brien.
The Irish trainer has dominated big races for years in Britain, and has won The Derby six of the last 11 renewals.
And it’s not just this race that appeals over the weekend with a plethora of Group and Listed races still to enjoy alongside the Classics.
Epsom Derby festival tips
Epsom is quite a sharp track so I tend to look for horses that have gone well here before if possible, either that or similar tracks like Chester.
Chester hosted their May festival last month which is a great indicator for some horses to keep an eye out for this week for those taking part in both, or with some older horses have gone on either festival before.
- The Oaks, Friday 4pm: Desert Flower 6/4
- The Derby, Saturday 3.30pm: Pride Of Arras 5/1 each-way & Ruling Court (exacta/forecast)
Desert Flower
This filly by Night Of Thunder has really surged clear to be favourite for The Oaks as the field has been whittled down to nine ahead of the race on Friday.
Minnie Hauk is still to be confirmed as to who’s riding her with some money coming for her across Wednesday to put the filly firmly into second favourite.
Whoever Ryan Moore ends up riding though, will likely end up the 2nd favourite as it gives such an indication as to who the O’Brien yard think will fare the best.
O’Brien has three contenders to take on the unbeaten Desert Flower: Minnie Hauk, Giselle and Whirl.
While Joseph Patrick O’Brien is hoping to spring another surprise with a 25/1 shot Wemightakedlongway.
Desert Flower has won all five of her flat races though and the Charlie Appleby and William Buick combo are doing so well leading up to this it’s hard to rule them out.
This time last year they hadn’t really got too many big winners but this year they’re firing on all cylinders with many of the Appleby crop running well.
This filly has already scooped £677,832 in winnings having won the 1000 Guineas on her first run of the season and she showed that she probably has more to give.
That does suggest the 1m4f, up from the 1m she’s take on so far, is going to suit but clearly the yard have done lots of work with her stamina already and she’s shown the right signs that she’ll suit this trip well.
Many of Night Of Thunder’s progeny have gone on to win well over 1m4f or further in general.
Her half-brother Aablan was very promising as a two-year-old and clearly there’s something special about this already 117-rated filly.
Pride Of Arras
No doubt about Delacroix’s potential going forward but Pride Of Arras really impressed last time out for Ralph Beckett and gives jockey Rossa Ryan a chance to win The Derby following his Prix de l’Arc Triomphe success last year with Bleustocking.
Ruling Court looks a tough one to beat too, as he is even rated the highest of the field at 121.
The Justify colt beat Field Of Gold back in May over 1m and of course that form has worked out well with him going on to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas, comfortably.
That said it’s a huge step up in trip from 1m to 1m4f, however it’s a distance that Justify, the Triple Crown winner, won over back in 2018 in the Belmont Stakes.
Trainer Charlie Appleby is taking the same kind of route as Desert Flower, proving their ability over the 1m contests before sending them out into the big 1m4f Classics.
I’d be tempted to bet each-way on Pride Of Arras along with some kind of side bet on Ruling Court, to place or combine the two for a Swinger or Exacta bet.
Pride Of Arras beat Damysus on his latest run which was just his second run under rules, indicating he’s dangerously unexposed.
Tom Lunn’s Horse Racing Profit & Loss
- April ’25: +28.79pts
- From Nov ’24: +101.59pts
- From May ’24: +255.54pts
- From July ’23: +395.01pts
All odds correct at time of writing
talkSPORT BET – Bet £10 Get £30 free bets – CLAIM HERE*
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
*18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile device, bet £10+ on Horse Racing at odds of 2.00+, in 7 days. Get 6x £5 in free bets on selected markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. T&Cs Apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
