Horse Racing: Kentucky Derby 2025 – Big Race Tips and Betting Preview

The major horse racing on Saturday isn’t restricted to the UK as there is a huge night of action across the pond when Churchill Downs plays host to the Kentucky Derby, one of the biggest horse races that takes place in a year.

To be fair, the whole card at Churchill Downs is a really good one and there is plenty of great racing to look forward to but all of our attention is going into the main event where we are going to take two against the field.

11.57 Churchill Downs – Kentucky Derby

The 151st running of what the US commonly refer to as the greatest 2 minutes in sport, it’s the Kentucky Derby.  This year’s running is the usual competitive fare with a maximum field of 20 & finding the winner will be the usual minefield.  I’m going double handed with the first of those behind Luxor Cafe.  The Japanese have never won this race but are getting closer, with Forever Young reaching the frame 12 months ago.  This year, they have an extra stronger challenger with a horse that travels well off the pace & quickens in the manner of a top class horse.  It’s hard to know exactly what he’s achieved but visually, he looks top class & his RPR figures suggest, even at 10/1, his odds have been underestimated.   You don’t imagine connections will have sent him over for nothing & the jockey booking catches the eye too.  From a decent draw in 6, he can track the pace & his blistering turn of foot should prove the difference late on.   With rain forecast too, he’s one of very few that has experienced slower conditions so if that comes into play, there’s another tick in the box for him.

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Regarding the wetter conditions, Coal Battle is another who can be given a chance.   So, at 25/1, he’s our second selection especially as he also has the form in the book to go very well.  He’d won 3 on the spin & looked a top class contender for this before, on the formbook, running slightly below par when 3rd in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.  He was behind Sandman, who is a 9/1 shot for this, but the selection is 3lbs better off today & should hopefully get the run of the race.  In his last race, the pace was fierce & he ran too close to it & was picked off by 2 rivals who raced cold at the back.  He’s drawn reasonably wide which should help as he won’t be able to get right up with the pace & a more patient run could pay dividends for a horse that looks sure to be suited by the extra furlong today.

Tips

Back Luxor Cafe (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 Bet365 (⅕ odds 1-4)

Back Coal Battle (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 29.00 Sky Bet (⅕ odds 1-5)