(3 minutes read)
The second flat classic of the season and the biggest betting flat race of the season is upon us as Epsom stages the Betfred Derby this Saturday. 
It is a fairly open renewal with the almost customary favourite trained by Aiden O’Brien in the form of Delacroix, although some of the stats do not favour the current market leader. We check out the Derby best bets and preview the front runners of this coveted race.
Non-Runner No Bet
Race sponsors Betfred currently offer Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) for this race. If you place a bet now, your stake will be refunded if the horse fails to take his place in the starting lineup come Saturday.
Extra Places
Race sponsors Betfred, Bet365, William Hill and Boylesports are paying 4 places for each way bets rather than the standard three places.
The Big Players
Delacroix
The Aiden O’Brien favourite has demonstrated significant improvement as a three year old after an indifferent season last year. He has won two Leopardstown Derby trials which have held well since the horses he beat have gone on to win further Derby trials. 
His pedigree suggests he should have no difficulty staying the Derby distance. However, the record of Leopardstown trial wins is not great: a winner has not been produced from these trials for nearly quarter of a century. Others are preferred. Best odds of 3/1 with William Hill.
Ruling Court
This Charlie Appleby trained entry bids for a coveted double after landing the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last month. This could well be within his sights as he stayed on impressively in the Newmarket classic, especially considering the statistical question marks regarding race favourite Delacroix.
Early indications seem to point towards to an ability and preference to stay further distances. Best odds of 7/2 with race sponsors Betfred.
Pride Of Arras
The only horse in the leading players to have confirmed staying credentials for 1 mile 2 furlongs. He looked impressive in the Dante Stakes in York, a race which is widely believed to be the strongest of the Derby trials here and in Ireland. 
The niggling doubt is really down to the pace of the Dante race which was slow (the Derby will be run over a much stronger gallop) and the fact that the market leaders performed well below expectation. However, Pride Of Arras is open to improvement. Best odds of 5/1 with race sponsors Betfred.
The Lion In Winter
Much improvement is expected from this Aiden O’Brien trained second string and his 7-furlong form is very impressive. The Dante performance, where The Lion In Winter finished four lengths fourth behind Pride Of Arras was too bad to be true, he was sweating up at the start and the race did not go his way at all. 
The Ballydoyle handler is a deft hand at getting horses ready for this race as demonstrated by City Of Troy’s win last year. Excellent each way opportunity at 8/1 best odds with William Hill and our choice to land this race.
Other Each Way Chances
Lambourn is drawn favourably in stall eleven: the winner has emerged from this stall on many occasions and he was mighty impressive winning the Chester Vase Stakes last month, although he needs to improve further. Best odds of 11/1 with Betfred.
Stanhope Gardens has a great each way chance considering he was only a neck behind Delacroix in the Newmarket Autumn Stakes last October. His reappearance at Salisbury last month, winning a conditions stakes race going away, will have him primed for this. Best odds of 16/1 with race sponsors Betfred, paying 4 places for each way bets.
Verdict
A slightly tricky puzzle to solve considering the front two in the market have not been tested over further than a mile. Ruling Court looked like he had plenty in hand in his 2000 Guineas win and the pedigree suggests he will stay much further.
Aiden O’Brien brings a formidable team as usual and although Delacroix looks to be the best of these on paper, The Lion In Winter should show his true potential in the Derby and is marginally our selection to win an extraordinary eleventh Epsom Derby.
Please note all odds are correct at the time of publishing (12 noon 6th June 2025) and are subject to change.
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