Epsom Horse Racing Tips for Saturday including The Derby

It’s the biggest race of the entire season at Epsom as the Derby takes centre stage on Saturday and there is a cracking supporting card to complement the big one.

Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway is on hand to run through his best bets from the day, including his selection in the Classic.

Saturday's Epsom Horse Racing Betting Tips

13:35 Epsom – Cairo @ 18/1
14:45 Epsom – Jer Batt @ 13/2
15:30 Epsom – Lambourn @ 10/1

13:35 Epsom – Cairo @ 18/1

The Diomed Stakes (13:35) looks ripe for an upset because hot favourite Docklands is an infrequent winner who runs his best races at Ascot, while market rival Persica ran terribly at Newbury last time.

The one to be on is Cairo, who ran some super races at Meydan over the winter and proved those to be no fluke when chasing home The Foxes in the Huxley Stakes at Chester last time. He was ultimately outclassed by the winner, but that was no disgrace against a horse with Group 1 prospects.

Cairo won’t face anything of that quality in this Group 3 and he pulled nicely clear of the remainder of the field at Chester. He also helped dictate a decent tempo and did well to hold on and take second.

He is 0-9 for this year and it’s a long time since his last win, but trainer Alice Haynes fits a visor for the first time and the aim will probably be to go forward. He drops two furlongs in trip and might prove difficult to catch if getting clear on the downhill run, given that he stays further than the distance.

14:45 Epsom – Jer Batt @ 13/2

The “Dash” Handicap (14:45) is the chief supporting race and this is always fast-and-furious down the hill at Epsom. It takes a seriously speedy sprinter to win it and Jer Batt might provide the answer here.

The David and Nicola Barron-trained five-year-old appears to be in the form of his life. He was beaten only a head into second in a hot handicap at Doncaster last October and returned from a winter break to finish third behind subsequent winner American Affair at Musselburgh. That is another speed track.

Jer Batt finished only fifth at Chester last time, but that was another good effort. He had a tricky draw out wide in stall nine and did incredibly well to finish only two and three-quarter lengths off the winner.

He loves a pace to aim at, so should find this downhill speed test ideal, and Oisin Murphy is an eye-catching jockey booking. He partnered Jer Batt to his narrow second at Doncaster last year and is back on board for the first time since. It looks worth taking the hint.

15:30 Epsom – Lambourn @ 10/1

The Derby (15:30) is the big one and there are enough stamina doubts regarding the two favourites, Delacroix and Ruling Court, to put me off them. It may pay to stick with the proven stayer Lambourn.

Lambourn was two and a quarter lengths off Delacroix when second in the Ballysax at Leopardstown in March, but that was over 1m2f and the selection ran the final furlong quicker than the winner. That gave a hint that a step up in trip may suit and he looked even better over 1m41/2f at Chester last time.

He was under pressure from a long way out, but kept going strongly and came a length and a half clear of runner-up Lazy Griff. Lambourn did all of his best work in the final furlong and completed the last section more than two and a half lengths quicker than the Cheshire Oaks winner Minnie Hauk.

That confirms Lambourn as one of the strongest stayers in this race and the recent rain is a huge positive. He has won on very soft ground in France and testing conditions will bring his stamina into it.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.