Epsom Derby Day Betting Tips 2023 – Preview and Tips for Every Race on Saturday 3rd June

Categories: Blog, Featured, ITV Racing | Published by: David Walters

02/06/2023

The 2023 Epsom Derby takes place this weekend and we have previewed the whole card as well as the big race itself, which will be going off earlier than normal because of the FA Cup final.

The big race of the day gets underway at 1.30pm this year and the first race on the card is at 12.50pm. There is Group 3 action either side of the Derby so don’t miss the early action.

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12.50

The Group 3 Diomed Stakes kicks off proceedings for Day 2 of the Derby Festival. It is hard to look past Highland Avevnue for the race who only raced twice in 2022, both times out in Dubai and although disappointing, he made a very encouraging reappearance in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Newmarket when 3^rd behind Adayar (Regal Reality was back in 4^th) and although up against one of Varians upcoming 3yos, this looks easier than his last assignment and should take all the beating.

Selection – Highland Avenue (11/8)

1.30

The Blue Ribband event is next and it really is a wide-open race. Auguste Rodin is the favourite off the back of a very disappointing Guineas run, however, if you look at Aidan’s horses Little Big Bear and Luxemburg to name a couple who were very disappointed both reappeared and won very well. Also, it is well-known that connections see this as much more of his trip. He’s drawn in the plum draw stall 10, the most successful stall producing 10 winners since stalls were introduced in 1967.

Next is Arrest who is vying for favouritism but the draw could have really scuppered his chances along with the ground and for all how impressive he was at Chester in May, this is very different ground and connections are worried about he will handle it.

Military Order is 3 out of 4 in his career so far, his only loss was first time out back in October. He then put that behind him 2 weeks later. This season he won a novice stakes race by 4L at Newbury and was better than the distance. He made all before being pushed along and went well clear 2f out and the race was over at that point. He won the Derby Trial at Lingfield on his next start and really seem to appreciate the step up in trip, the race was moved to the AW due to the ground and although this looks like another step up in grade for him, there is nothing to suggest to he can’t improve more and does have the profile to be a Derby Winner.

Passenger is 4^th in the market and was supplemented at a cool cost of £85,000 for connections after a very unlucky passage in the Dante with White Birch and The Foxes in front of him that day, but he just couldn’t find the gaps when it mattered and then when he finally got a clear run in the final furlong the race was over and he dead-heated for 3^rd. There are always question marks about horses like this, because we can’t be sure he was going to win had he not been denied a clear run. For me, the winner comes from the top 4.

Arrest looks to have everything against him, Auguste Rodin, can you really back a horse that short after his last run albeit Aidan is a master and if someone can get the horse back to the form of last year it’s him but does take a lot of courage. Passenger is in with a real shot and last year’s winning trainer/jockey has a good chance of doing it again but I am never a fan of unlucky horses and at Epsom it can be even messier! That leaves Military Order – every race he just seems to get better and connections now know what it takes to win a derby and for me his the most solid option.

Selection- Military Order (5/1)

14.10

Prosperous Voyage looks the obvious one and it is hard to get away from her. She is the class act in the field and the rightful favourite. She got stuck in the ground last time out and is now back on better ground so this looks a good opportunity for her to get her nose back in front.

Selection – Prosperous Voyage (6/4)

14.45

Next, we have the first of the two dashes, this time for the 3yo and it’s a very tough race to call. One at a double-figure price I like is Zuffolo which the betting suggests is the second string for the stable however looks speed all over. He was very disappointing finishing last first time out but then left that behind him when winning on good ground over Redcar and looks to be improving. He will love the conditions and could improve past his stablemate, who in my opinion is the one to beat.

Selection – Zuffolo (12/1)

15.20

Now for my favourite race, the quickest 5f in Britain, so pick a horse that’s all about speed. That horse is Clarendon House who won 4 times as a 3yo. Then ran a decent race on his seasonal reappearance, and looked to be coming for the win but the lack of fitness told that day and he faded into 5^th. He should be a lot fitter today and has won on firm ground so that holds no fears. He is drawn in two, where there looks to be a lot of pace so he should get a nice toe into the race then unlike York, take it up from 1f out and power away.

Selection – Clarendon House (9/1)

15.55

The Lester Piggot Handicap is next and Fox Journey for Michael Soute could be the pick of these. Harry Davies takes the ride and he won on handicap debut at Newmarket over 2 weeks ago. He has gone up 9lbs for that win but does look a potential listed horse and should take this in his stride.

Selection – Fox Journey (9/2)

16.30

A 1m4f handicap is the race and the winner should be Caius Chorister who won 5 times on the trot last season, going up 33lbs as a result of that. He has only lost once at this track out of 3 runs so he obviously loves it here. He ran a very good race when second to Bad Company over 1m2f and steps up 2f today and that should bring even more improvement. The jockey booking of Ryan Moore is eye-catching and you have to think this has been the target for a while.

Selection – Caius Chorister (11/4)

17.05

The last race of the meeting and my selection is Many a Star who won over 6f twice last year. He was switched to the AW, which he hated from start to finish and finished a very disappointing 12/14. Today he is back on turf and back on a sound surface and has a great record fresh, is in a good draw and has Tom Marquand on board. At 12/1 he looks like a solid each-way bet.

Selection – Many A Star (12/1)