Derby Preview and Best Bets
All eyes on Epsom this coming Saturday, as the Surrey track plays host to the most famous flat race of the British season. Once again attracting the very best runners from both sides of the Irish Sea, the battle for the £1.6million in total prize money and Classic prestige looks set to be as hot as ever. And as always, the question on everyone’s lips in the lead up to the race is, “Who’s going to win?”….
The Favourites
Last successful with Workforce back in 2010, five-time Derby winning trainer Sire Michael Stoute is being made to wait for win number six. However, that wait may be about to end in 2022, as it is the Stoute trained, Desert Crown (7/4 with Betfred) who is out on his own at the head of the betting.
A perfect two from two in his career to date, he arrives on the back of an excellent win in the Dante Stakes, when impressing both visually and with the time on the clock. Should he handle both the unique undulations of Epsom, and this step up to 1m4f, he may well prove the class act in the field.
It wouldn’t be a Derby without a fancied runner from the Irish operation of Aidan O’Brien, and the Ballydoyle maestro sends three into battle this time around, in the shape of Changingoftheguard, Star Of India and Stone Age.
The choice of Ryan Moore, it is Stone Age who has emerged as the stable number one, shortening into 4/1 with William Hill following an authoritative success in a trial for this race at Leopardstown. Being by the sadly departed super sire Galileo, he shouldn’t be found wanting in the stamina department and seems likely to be involved.
Lively Outsiders
This hasn’t been a particularly happy hunting ground for favourite backers in recent years, with four of the past five winners being priced at 16/1 or bigger. It therefore may make sense to look a little further down the betting list.
Piz Badile (10/1 with Betfred) will likely prove popular on the back of a win in the Ballysax Stakes and with the evergreen Frankie Dettori in the saddle, whilst Aidan O’Brien’s apparent second string Changingoftheguard (8/1) could prove dangerous - particularly should the rain arrive.
Star Of India (16/1 Betfred) meanwhile went into many notebooks when scoring stylishly on debut at Leopardstown back in October. Disappointing when tapped for toe on his seasonal return in the 1m Craven Stakes, he then bounced right back to form when landing the 1m2½f Dee Stakes at Chester in his prep run for this. Hitting the line strongly that day, this further step up in trip may bring out more, and this Galileo colt can go well.
West Wind Blows (33/1 William Hill) has a lot more to prove than Star Of India, but we like what we have seen from the mount of Jack Mitchell. Landing his maiden at the first time of asking last season, he looked to have trained on nicely when pulverising his rivals from the front at Nottingham - giving a decent field 7lbs and a five-length beating. An out and out galloper, he takes a big step up in class here, but may be tough to keep out of the places if getting into a rhythm on the front end.
Best Bets
If there is a superstar in this year’s line-up, it does seem most likely to be Desert Crown. However, with slight questions to answer regarding the track and trip, he’s not for us at what is a pretty skinny price.
With a number of firms offering additional places, this seems a good race for a couple of each way punts against the market leaders, with both Star Of India and West Wind Blows looking good value to hit the frame.
- Each Way Tip - Star Of India @16/1 with Betfred
- Each Way Tip - West Wind Blows @ 33/1 with William Hill
Top 20 Betting Offers
|
18+. New Customers Only. Max 1 x £10 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at Odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as Bonus Token Min 4/5 Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller, Paypal not eligible. T&Cs Apply |
|||||
|
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 1 x £10 Football Free Bet, 1 x £10 Horse Racing Free Bet, 2 x £10 Free Bet Builders. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required. |
|||||
|
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £5 free bets. Stake not returned. Restrictions + Free bet T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org.Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Min deposit & bet £10 at min odds 1/2 to qualify for 4 x £10 free bets. Certain deposit methods and bet types excl. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app & bet £10+ on any football market at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
|||||
|
New UK Customers only. Use code welcomeMB40. Sign up and place at least 3 bets of £10 or more on seperate events on your first day of betting. If account has net sportsbook losses at the end of first day's betting, Gentleman Jim will refund 50% of these as a free bet up to £40. Full Terms apply. 18+ begambleaware. |
|||||
|
New UK Customers. Register using code BETGETSPORTS. Must bet £10 in total on 4+ legs, min odds 4.0. £20 awarded as 4 X £5 free bets once settled, AND 50 Free Spins to use on Big Bass Splash (valued at 10p per spin). Free bet T&Cs Apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org |
|||||
|
18+. BeGambleAware.org. New customers only. Min. £10 deposit, debit card only. Up to 50x wagering, game contributions vary, max. stake applies, 7 day expiry. See full terms. #AD |
|||||
|
1st deposit only | min deposit £10 | max bonus £10 | Min Odds 1/1 (2.0) | Max winnings £100 | 5 day bonus expiry | User agreement & Bonus T&Cs apply |
|||||
|
New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, payment method exclusions apply; New customers only. T&C apply; 18+ |
|||||
|
18+. New customers only. Place a minimum £50 bet on any selection with minimum odds of Evens (2.00) and receive a £20 free bet upon bet settlement. Freebet expires after 7 days. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
18+. New Customers Only. Min deposit £20. Maximum one £10 Free Bet & two £5 Bet Builder Free Bets. Qualifying bet must be placed at odds of Evens (2.00) or greater. Paid as bonus tokens: Token 1 Min odds Req: 4/5 (1.80). Token 2 & 3 are valid for Bet Builder only and are subject to min odds of 2/1 (3.00). T&Cs Apply. |
|||||
|
New Customers place a £25 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2. Get £50 in Free Bets as: 5 x £5 free fixed odds bets + 4 x £5 free Total Goals spread bets + 50 free spins on Starburst 18+. Full promotions terms apply. |
|||||
|
New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
New Customers. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First qualifying bet with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00+ (2/1). If first bet loses free bets will be credited after bet settled. 100 Free Spins on Gold Blitz credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full terms apply |
|||||
|
New customers Deposit and place your first bet on Sports at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater. Once bet is settled you will receive 1x £10 Free Bet Token to be used on Football, 1x £10 Free Bet Token to be used on Horse Racing, and 20 Extra spins (value per spin 50p), to be used on Book of Dead. Total bonus value £30. Full terms apply. 18+ begambleaware. |
|||||
|
New Customers Only. Sign up with bonus code: EB20. Bet £20 and get £20 in Free Bets. Paid as £5 Free Bet on Soccer, £5 Free Bet on Horse Racing, £5 Free Bet on Multiples and a £5 Free Bet on any Market. Terms apply 18+ gambleaware.org. |
|||||
|
£10 min deposit. First bet mins odds 1.5 placed within 14 days of sign-up. 2 x £10 in Free Bets: valid for 7 days, free bet stakes not returned. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+ T&Cs apply.
|
