The Derby remains horseracing’s greatest gift to the world, with its echo heard in similar races the world over and as far as last week’s FA Cup final.
A total of 16 three-year-old colts will line up for the feature race at Epsom’s unique course at 4.30. There are loads of other top-quality betting races to savour on a fabulous afternoon of racing on the downs.
Our expert, Clive Gildon, has a trio of selections on the card including one in the feature race, plus a couple of lightning-quick sprinters in the earlier races on the card.
Saturday’s tips for Epsom
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3.10 Epsom – Sturlasson
The five-furlong course at Epsom is known as the fastest in the world, owing to its downhill nature. The course record there stands at a blistering 53.69 seconds, which was set on this card 12 years ago.
A fast start is crucial. Being close to the rail is often important, too. The Irish-trained Sturlasson has both of those factors in his favour and may take all the catching under top rider Oisin Murphy.
On his last two outings, Sturlasson has flown out of the stalls. He seemed unfit the first time, but with a run behind him on better ground last time he was able to lead them a merry dance at Navan. That is a much stiffer track than Epsom, which only means that Sturlasson’s early speed will be all the more important. He is drawn in stall 17 of 20, so does not have many to beat in order to nab the all-important stands-side rail.
3.45 Epsom – Clarendon House
This is another race over the five-furlong course and the one in which the aforementioned world record was set.
The ground this year is sufficiently soft that we are unlikely to see the record fall. However, Clarendon House is a sprinter who could be going for the best races and if there is to be a fast time recorded, he is the likeliest to do it.
He was third in this race last year and was arguably unlucky not to win it. He showed loads of pace and if anything took the lead too soon, his effort trailing off just enough to let others in.
Clarendon House is in even better form this year, he arrives on the back of a convincing win at York, and is drawn fairly near the stands rail in stall 12 of 15.
4.30 Epsom – Ambiente Friendly
We are used to the Derby being dominated by horses trained by Aidan O’Brien and Charlie Appleby. Those trainers tend to get the horses whose breeding is best suited to the demands of the race.
O’Brien and Appleby again have many of this year’s favourites. Among them is the James Fanshawe-trained Ambiente Friendly, a real Derby wild card. However, if O’Brien or Appleby trained a colt with his form, he would be favourite.
In the Lingfield Derby Trial, which is known for its similar terrain to Epsom, Ambiente Friendly recorded a four-and-a-half-length win in a fast time. He did it easily, too, suggesting there could be more to come.
In a year when plenty of other big trial winners have failed to make the starting line-up for the Derby, Ambiente Friendly’s form is especially solid and yet he still offers value. This is simply because his highly capable trainer is not as fashionable as some others with contenders in the race.
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