2025 Epsom Derby betting predictions, odds, and race previews
THERE's rarely a dull Saturday in the racing world, though you'll definitely need to dust off your top hat for this weekend's action.
The cream of the thoroughbred crop is off to Epsom for the Betfred Derby, the second Classic of the season for the three-year-old colts.
This year's race feels open, with the favourite being Delacroix for the insatiable Aidan O'Brien at the time of writing, a trainer who has won this a record 10 times. Delacroix has strong form and a pedigree that suggests he'll stay this trip, but plenty deserve a look.
Leading the opposition are key trial winners Ruling Court and Pride Of Arras, while the unbeaten French horse Midak has been supplemented for this in the colours of the late Aga Khan IV - with the race being run in his honour.
We've taken an in-depth look at the fields to bring you our very best Epsom Derby betting predictions below, with tips in each and every race at Epsom Downs on Saturday.
🏇 2025 Derby Day: picks and tips
The card for Epsom Derby Day is a fabulous one, with no less than three Group contests across the eight-race card, as well as some seriously competitive handicap heats.
With each race looking fairly tricky to solve, we've picked out a bet in each and every race for you below, including in the Derby itself. Odds are provided by our recommended horse racing sites.
📋 2025 Derby Day schedule
There's plenty to get stuck into on Derby Day, with the big race due off at 3.30pm. You can find the full schedule for Saturday's meeting at Epsom Downs below.
Start time Race Distance
1:00 pm 5:40 pm 1M 113Y
1:35 pm The Betfred Diomed Stakes (Group 3) 1M 113Y
2:10 pm The Betfred 3YO 'Dash' Handicap Stakes 5F
2:45 pm The Aston Martin 'Dash' Handicap Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 5F
3:30 pm The Betfred Derby (In honour of His Highness Aga Khan IV) (Group 1) 1M 4F
4:15 pm The Encore Lifestyle Northern Dancer Handicap Stakes 1M 4F
5:00 pm The Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Lester Piggott Handicap Stakes 1M 2F
5:40pm The JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap Stakes 6F
Our best pick for the 2025 Betfred Epsom Derby (Group 1)
A stellar renewal of the UK's most prestigious Flat race. Several trial winners feature, including 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court. That form has been boosted since by the runner-up Field Of Gold winning the Irish equivalent, though he must prove he stays the trip.
Pride Of Arras' victory in top trial the Dante Stakes stands out and while he has modest connections by the Derby's standards, he looked very classy indeed when striking at York. Behind him was The Lion In Winter, a top juvenile from last year who could build on his reappearance in sixth. Unbeaten French challenger Midak is fascinating, but Delacroix looks the best option.
A high-class juvenile, he returned by winning the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown in March, a race which has produced four Derby winners this century. This year's form has been boosted too, with the second (Lambourn) and the fourth (Puppet Master) going on to win trials in their own right. The choice of Ryan Moore, he appeals as a horse who will handle any ground and improve for the step up in trip. He looks the best option for his all-conquering trainer.
1:00 - Group 3 The Princess Elizabeth Stakes tip
This is a tricky puzzle to solve. The ground could be sticky by post time and Skellet is versatile in that regard, winning a Listed contest in the autumn. She is interesting, while Bright Thunder would be one to note if the heavens opened.
Both Chic Colombine (second) and Royal Dress (third) had nightmare runs in this last year and are back for more, but Bermuda Longtail catches the eye. Admittedly, three-year-olds don't have a great record in this, but she's got better with each of her four runs and is fancied to improve past several of these, with her price of 5/1 with BetMGM looking fair.
➡️
1:35 - Group 3 The Betfred Diomed Stakes prediction
This race is named after the inaugural Derby winner and several deserve a look. Docklands jointly leads the betting at the time of writing some classy form under his belt, though the undulations of Epsom may not play to his strengths considering he's at his best on straight miles.
German challenger Geography is interesting for a yard who have had success on these shores before, but it's hard to ignore joint favourite Persica at 2/1 with bet365. He found Group 1 company at Newbury too hot last time, but had been progressing well prior to that and will handle the track having won a handicap on this day last year.
2:10 - The Betfred 3YO 'Dash' Handicap Stakes pick
A fast and furious affair, in which the thriving Ruby's Profit ought to take all the beating. The daughter of Profitable has bags of speed and couldn't be in better form, still looking ahead of her mark when picking up a second win of the campaign at Goodwood last time. A 3.95 favourite with SBK, she only has one way of running and a 6lbs rise may not be enough to stop her from going in again. The reopposing Mademoiselle finished well behind the favourite last time and she rates as a big threat if she is able to learn from that experience.
➡️ Back Ruby's Profit in the 3YO Dash at 59/20 with SBK
2:45 - The Aston Martin 'Dash' Handicap Stakes pick
A fiendishly difficult puzzle to solve, particularly when you note that five of the last 10 winners have returned at odds of 16/1 or higher. A mixture of a good draw and tactical speed can often prove to be a good combination, drawing the eye to Spartan Arrow. He's got low mileage for a sprinter but has been kept busy this year, winning twice from five starts. The latest of those wins was a career best effort to win from the front in April. He faded at York last time, but he's a strong traveller and it would be no surprise to see him give this a good go from a high draw. It looks worth backing him each-way at 13.5 with SBK.
4:15 - The Encore Lifestyle Northern Dancer Handicap Stakes predictions
Yet another tough equation and a chance is taken on Maxi King each-way. He was thriving when completing a hat-trick in the mud this time last year and while he's been in and out since, he signed off with a solid run at Doncaster in November. He's capable of running well fresh and returns having had a gelding operation over the winter. It would be no surprise to see him go well here should the rain continue to fall and he looks worth backing each-way at around 16/1 with bet365. Both Valvano and Small Fry have plenty going for them in opposition and can't be ruled out, either.
➡️ Back Maxi King each-way in the Northern Dancer Handicap at 16/1 with bet365
5:00 - The Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Lester Piggott Handicap Stakes tip
A race in which excess rain would cause havoc, with plenty of these showing their best form on faster ground. Chartwell Jack represents a yard that has won this three times in the last 10 years and is respected after a solid run at Ascot last time, while Grecian Legacy showed plenty of improvement for a gelding operation when winning on reappearance at Goodwood.
War Hawk is another last time out winner that can't be ignored, but Hornsea Bay could be the way to go. He's shown some fairly useful form so far and while he struggled last time, he has been gelded since and should suit the step up in trip. Trading at 5/1 with BetVictor, he gets the vote for his ultra-shrewd connections.
5:40 - The JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap Stakes prediction
Yet another sprint race on the card that looks wide open. Circe arrives here in the form of her life, after back-to-back successes over six furlongs this term. She had to dig deep last time and faces a career high mark but is respected, while Eye Of Dubai and Rousing Encore would come into play on soft ground.
A chance is taken however on the 2023 winner Badri. A ten-time winner, he was 8lbs higher when taking this two years ago and is slipping down to a tempting mark. Drawn in stall one, he can strike under Hollie Doyle, with his price of 7/1 with BetMGM looking more than fair.
About the author
James Anderson
James Anderson is a Betting & Gaming Writer at The Sun. He is an expert in sports betting and online casinos, and joined the company in November 2020 to work closely with leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to curate content in all areas of sports betting. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter and Head of Live Blogs/Events at the Daily Express and Daily Star, covering football, cricket, snooker, F1 and horse racing.
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