Betfred Derby 2025 – Big Race Tips and Betting Preview

After a dramatic and entertaining Betfred Oaks for the fillies at Epsom Downs on Friday, the attention turns to the males for the penultimate classic of the UK season on Saturday as the Betfred Derby takes place at the same venue.

Once again there is a huge undercard for what is one of the biggest days of racing in the calendar, but as was the case on Friday, our attention is firmly on the big race where this time we are going against the jollies with just the one selection.

3.30 Epsom Derby

Preview

In contrast to the small Oaks field yesterday, we have the joint biggest field this century going for the Blue Riband, the Epsom Derby, at 3,30pm today.   19 go to post & Aiden O’Brien, who saddled  the 1-2 in the Oaks, has the favourite in Delacroix here. The winner of a pair of Leopardstown Group 3’s this year & the choice of Ryan Moore give this a leading chance but would you really want to take odds of around 9/4 on any horse in such a big field in the year’s biggest race at a track like Epsom?   Whilst sure to go close, I can’t be having him at that price.   Ruling Court, for Charlie Appleby, is bidding to make up for yesterday’s Desert Flower disappointment but I fear the same fate awaits.  The winner of the 2000 Guineas has those same stamina concerns & that’s enough to put me off.  O’Brien has 2 other leading fancies in the shape of Lambourn &  Lion In Winter.   I could not put anyone off the former, I expect he’ll sneak into the places but it’s not often that Moore picks wrong whilst the latter disappointed in the Dante & the trainer has already said that whatever he does today, he’ll improve for the outing.   Talking of the Dante, Pride Of Arras quickened up in the style of a good horse to land the spoils & could go well again today but his odds are a little on the skinny side.

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Betting

Instead, I’m taking Damysus, second home to Pride Of Arras in the Dante, to turn the tables on that rival.  After winning on debut, he’s yet to find to come home in front in 2 subsequent runs but has looked a bit green in both races.  Both of those runs came in Classic trials, the first in a Group 3 at Sandown where he was beaten just over a length & where that inexperience was obvious.   However, it was that Dante run that put him firmly in the picture for this.   I thought he was caught a bit wide in the straight & a little further back than ideal when the pace quickened but he finished off his race as well as any.   Better track position might have seen him overhaul the winner so the fact he’s 3 times the price of him today appeals.  He also looked the more likely to be suited by the additional distance.   I quite like his draw in 15 if he jumps & gets a good early position, whilst the jockey booking is fine by me given Doyle rode him for his one & only win back in December.   In an open race, he looks the best of the double figure priced runners.

Tips

Back Damysus (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 15.00 Boylesports (⅕ odds 1-4)

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