Horse Racing Tips
ITV Racing Tips On Epsom Derby Day: Race-By-Race Predictions & Best Bets
All eyes will be on Epsom Downs for Derby Day on Saturday, with ITV Racing broadcasting an exciting card and William Hill News have you covered with predictions on each live race.
Epsom Tips – ITV Racing Derby Day:
- 1.30pm – Poet Master (NAP)
- 2.05pm – Sparks Fly (NB)
- 2.40pm – Calandagan
- 3.15pm – Stormy Impact
- 4.00pm – Benvenuto Cellini
- 4.40pm – York Tower
Our horse racing expert Steven Mullington takes a look at all of the scheduled TV races on Derby Day, including a NAPs table selection in the opening race of the coverage.
1.30 – 7f Tattenham Corner Stakes (Group 3)
Formerly run at Haydock Park, POET MASTER (NAP) can land this esteemed Group 3 on Saturday for the Karl Burke stable. A proven Group 2 winner in the past, his recent form suggests he is now more suited to a Group 3/Listed level contest nowadays.
His close second in last season’s Prix du Pin (Group 3) in very soft ground at Longchamp proves that he will enjoy the conditions on the Downs, making him a strong bet for win purposes.
2.05 – 1m½f Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3)
Having witnessed in person SPARKS FLY (NB) lead them all a merry dance in a heavy ground renewal of the Listed Prix Coronation at Saint-Cloud in October 2024, I am confident that Laura Pearson can win this race from the front at Epsom.
In fact, Sparks Fly went back to Paris in the November of 2024, and did the same thing in the Listed Prix Isola Bella over a mile.
Stamina won’t be an issue for this six-year-old and she can dominate this race against her own sex once more.
2.40 – 1m4f Coronation Cup (Group 1)
It will be an absolute pleasure for Epsom’s patrons to witness the world’s highest-rated racehorse run on Derby Day.
Francis Grffard’s CALANDAGAN is priced up accordingly in our market at a shade of odds-on, with his current odds of 10/11 look pretty generous to me in the grand scheme of things.
The opposition from Jan Brueghal and Lambourn is very strong, but I suspect they will be fighting it out for the runner-up spot, rather than the win.
3.15 – 5f Dash Handicap
STORMY IMPACT won the 3-y-o Dash here twelve months ago and a year on he is returning for the 4-y-o + version of the race.
Course and distance form is highly beneficial at Epsom and Richard Fahey’s charge is just one of two previous CD scorers at this track. I’m willing to forgive him his seasonal bow at York in the hope that his form is reignited by this unique racecourse with its famous home straight.
4.00 – 1m4f Epsom Derby (Group 1)
It was all systems go to Epsom for Aidan O’Brien’s star three-year-old BENVENUTO CELLINI after he secured an emphatic four-and-a-half length victory in the Group 3 Chester Vase.
The Frankel-colt has proved himself to be versatile when it comes to the ground and has generally produced his highest official ratings on Good to Firm or Good. He has however showed he can handle soft ground having previously scored over a mile at Killarney.
On paper, he’s the one they all have to beat in today’s Derby.
4.40 – 1m2f Lester Piggott Handicap
Handicap newcomer YORK TOWER has a profile that suggests that 1m2f+ will suit him now and going forward.
William Haggas is very smart as placing his horses in all the correct races, and this three-year-old gets in off a lovely low weight in this handicap.
At around odds of 8/1 in our sports betting, he’s an interesting each-way play.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
