THE 2025 Derby is run in honor of His Highness Aga Khan IV and appropriately, this is a fascinating renewal with a field of 19 going to post. Delacroix is currently favourite at Unibet 100/30, with the 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court Unibet 7/2 and my selection Pride Of Arras at Unibet 5/1.
In such an open-looking renewal there are good each-way opportunities and while I have included Lambourn below at a bigger price, Tornado Alert Unibet 28/1 could run a big race after his 2000 Guineas fourth.
We are all on weather watch, with as of early Friday morning 10mm of rain forecast for Saturday, which is an improvement from 24mm on Thursday evening. Let’s hope this trend continues and we have a relatively dry Derby Day.
Enjoy whether at Epsom or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
1:35 Epsom – Diomed Stakes Group 3 (1m ½f)
Persica for Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon looked as good as ever when winning the Earl of Sefton at Newmarket in April, beating the useful Ottoman Fleet, and this intermediate trip (almost 9f) is probably his optimum.
The Lockinge was a step too far last time, and he will be in good company here with a strong chance.
2:45 Epsom – Aston Martin “Dash” Heritage Handicap (5f)
Vintage Clarets handles some cut, and it’s worth bearing in mind he was well backed for this back in 2023 but was one of the sufferers of the stalls opening slower on the stands side, which immediately put him on the back foot. That was the only time he had run at Epsom, and it is interesting that he returns to this race.
He looks like he is coming back to form too, judged on his good sixth behind American Affair last time out at York, and with a strong claimer on board, he can run a big race.
Marching Mac won five times in 2024, including completing a hat-trick when winning at Newmarket in November. His rating did go from 62 to 85 last season, and he then reappeared at Goodwood last month when tenth of thirteen runners. He never looked comfortable that day and couldn’t get in a position to make a challenge.
He had not run at Goodwood before, and whilst he was unsuited by the course, he looked like he retained all his enthusiasm. This is very much his trip and he shouldn’t be overlooked.
3:30 Epsom – Derby (In Honour of His Highness Aga Khan IV) Group 1 (1m 4f)
Pride Of Arras (nap) won on debut at Sandown last season when winning easily by 3¼ lengths and then looked very impressive when successful in the Dante at York, beating Damysus, who reopposes, by 1¼ lengths after taking up the lead from just over a furlong out. Pride Of Arras’ success at 18/1 may have surprised many, yet he showed no lack of experience when having to wait for a gap from over three furlongs and had to be switched to finally get a clear run, which makes you wonder how much he could have won by with a smooth passage.
He will relish the stay up in distance, clearly has plenty of potential, and has won so far on good and good to firm, though his sire New Bay was successful over this trip in the very soft. Pride Of Arras can emulate Desert Crown in taking the Derby on his third career start after taking the Dante.
Lambourn might not be the first string in the yard, but that’s not stopped them winning the Derby in previous years, as they did, for example, in 2017 with Wings Of Eagles at 40/1.
In March, Lambourn was beaten by stablemate Delacroix at Leopardstown over an inadequate trip in receipt of 3lb when clearly looking in need of a longer distance, which he had when taking the Chester Vase in good style after leading in the final furlong and recording a good speed figure too. The further they went, the happier Lambourn looked, and he still didn’t look the finished article even after five starts.
Lambourn, whose sire Australia won the Derby in 2014, will stay this trip and further, with the key to make full use of his stamina and his undoubted ability. He wouldn’t mind some cut in the ground either, and looks the each-way play.
4:15 Epsom – Encore Lifestyle Northern Dancer Handicap (1m 4f)
Asgard’s Captain has a strong chance on the back of an easy success at the April meeting when beating the smart Master Builder by 4½ lengths on quicker ground. He was also placed third last year on good to soft in this race and he is clearly very effective at Epsom.
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