ITV Racing Tips for Epsom Derby Day 2023

The Epsom Derby is one of the biggest races of the year and this year there is a slight change in that the race is going off at the earlier time of 1.30pm due to the FA Cup final taking place at 3pm at Wembley.

Henry landed his 7/1 NAP thanks to Bobsleigh yesterday and he’s back today with a preview and betting tip from all the ITV Races on Saturday, including the Derby.

 

12:50 Epsom

The first race on Derby Day comes up at 12:50 and it is the Diomed Stakes, a Group 3 contest over the 6f trip.

I’ll chance the rank outsider MARIES DIAMOND (14/1) here who is the obvious pace angle in this race. He will get his own way out in front here like he did last time out at York where he narrowly failed going down by a head finishing a game second. Hollie Doyle can set the fractions again here and he may just be able to get away from his rivals as they come round the bend. There is nothing that sticks out in this race truth be told, but at the prices, I’d side with Marie’s Diamond.

 

1:30 Epsom

Due to the FA Cup Final, we have an early start for the feature, the Group 1 Betfred Derby for the 3 year-olds over 1m4f of course. Arguably the biggest flat race of the calendar.

The one for me here is SPREWELL (12/1) EW. A really good winner of the Leopardstown Derby trial stepping up to 1m2f for the first time last time out winning by 4l. He appeared to relish every yard of that trip and he’ll improve further stepped up to 1m4f here. The quicker ground should suit him better here and he is open to further improvement as he is a horse going the right way improving with every run. He has a lovely draw for this in stall 6 where he should be able to obtain a nice early position and get a clear run when it matters. In a wide open renewal, he appeals as a lovely each-way selection.

 

2:10 Epsom

Next up at Epsom is more Group 3 action, this time it is the Princess Elizabeth Stakes for the fillies and mares over 1m and half a furlong.

I think PROSPEROUS VOYAGE (6/4) NB can outclass her rivals at this level. She was a Group 1 winner last season winning the Falmouth Stakes on fast ground over this trip. She disappointed in three runs after that but the ground would have been soft enough and the opposition was much stronger than she’ll face today. Against her own sex here at Group 3 level, she’ll be a tough one to beat back under her ideal conditions.

 

2:45 Epsom

The 2:45 at Epsom is a new addition to the card, a Dash over the 5f restricted to the 3 year-olds.

It’s BETWEENTHESTICKS (14/1) EW for me here at a decent price. A fast 5f suits him well as he proved when winning at York last October. He’s held his form well since and he was an unlucky second last time out at Salisbury when just touched off over another fast 5f. I think he can go well off a mark of 81 with George Bass taken a further 3lb off.

 

3:20 Epsom 

The unique Epsom Dash over the fastest 5f comes up at 3:55 and it’s a wide-open renewal as usual.

I’ll chance CAME FROM THE DARK (18/1) EW here who is more than due in a race of this nature. He’ll need a lot of luck in running as he likes to be held up but I imagine he’ll be coming home stronger than anything else. He finished well for third last time out at Newmarket despite starting slowly and a race with only eight runners possibly doesn’t suit him as well because he wouldn’t get that strong gallop to aim at. He likes to come through horses too which suggests this test may see him to best effect. Off this current mark of 91, he’s certainly got the talent to win a race of this nature. Hopefully he gets the luck today and puts his best foot forward.

 

3:55 Epsom

The 3:55 race is a handicap named after the great Lestor Piggott over 1m2f.

I like BALANCE PLAY (5/1) here who is open to plenty of improvement for the Ralph Beckett stable. He has improved with each run finishing 4th and 3rd on his two starts last season as a 2 year-old. It was fairly obvious they were runs to help him learn his trade and he returned as a 3 year-old at Salisbury last month finishing a close second over an inadequate 7f. I’m sure that would have brought him on and he now steps up to 1m2f which looks a positive move based on his breeding and what we’ve seen from his on the track. He has a lovely racing weight of 8’7 here and gets plenty of weight off his rivals. Stall 6 looks ideal as he don’t want to be stuck on the rail or stuck on the outside when you’re just an inexperienced 3 year-old at Epsom. Therefore, he’s the one I like in this competitive affair.

 

4:30 Epsom

The 4:30 race is another tricky handicap, this time over 1m4f.

I like SCAMPI (10/3) NAP here for the Balding team. I was taken by his victory at the Dante Meeting at York last time out travelling strongly throughout before staying on to win easy enough in what looked a really good handicap on paper. He’s a course and distance winner here at Epsom which is an obvious bonus on this unique layout. A 6lb rise in the weights for his last victory seems justified and it might not be enough to stop him in here.

 

5:05 Epsom

The finale on Derby Day comes up at 5:05 and it’s a 6f handicap with 14 runners set to go to post.

I like PROBE (9/2) here who looks a sprinter on the upgrade. A good winner at Wolves back in March on the AW, he showed he could handle turf when finishing a good second at Newmarket on his next start in a decent race over 6f. He was unlucky that day to not win really and he duly obliged on his next start back at Newmarket showing a useful turn of foot to come from off the pace and win by nearly 2 lengths. He’s up 7lb but he’s improving rapidly and that may not be enough to stop him going in again and making it 3 wins from his last 4 starts.

 

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