2 days ago
Horse racing tips: Saturday, June 7
The most important Flat race of the year, the Derby at Epsom, takes place on Saturday and we have verdicts and tips for the showpiece event and the other seven races on the card.
Five of those races are live on ITV1 (12.45-4.15) including, of course, the big one and you can also read Ron Wood's runner-by-runner guide to the world-famous Classic.
Ron Wood's selections:
Odds provided by Midnite and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (max 5).
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1.00 Epsom – Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3, 1m ½f)
There's still more to come from SPIRITUAL, who was an encouraging third in a Group 3 race over 7f at Lingfield on her reappearance.
The step back up in trip is in her favour and this sharp, turning track should suit her headstrong style.
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1.35 Epsom – Diomed Stakes (Group 3, 1m ½f)
Ground on the slow side is ideal for PERSICA (NAP). He gets that now, plus he drops in class after the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, run on quick going at Newbury, asked too much of him.
He won a handicap on this card last year, so the track suits him – not all horses handle Epsom – and he won a Group 3 race at Newmarket just two starts ago. He has a small penalty for that success, but still appeals.
2.10 Epsom – 3YO 'Dash' Handicap (Class 3, 5f)
RUBY'S PROFIT has bundles of speed and is drawn to attack, being berthed against the near rail in stall 18. This race last year was dominated by high-drawn runners on good-to-soft ground.
There's a danger that slow going could blunt her pace, but this track, which is the sharpest 5f in the country, will suit her. She has won two of her three starts this season.
2.45 Epsom – 'Dash' (Heritage Handicap, 5f)
It has to be said that FAIR WIND is a risky bet, as he refused to race on his final outing of 2024 and he didn't show much at Chester on his reappearance. However, that comeback outing was his first start for 282 days, so he probably needed it, and he does appeal as worth taking a chance on now.
Slow ground is what he wants, he's drawn in the thick of the action in stall 13 and he should get a suitably strong pace ahead of him to help with his off-the-speed style – plus he's still well weighted.
3.30 Epsom – Derby (Group 1, 1m 4f)
This year's Derby is wide open. The favourite Delacroix is no standout on form, the 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court is stepping up half a mile in trip and The Lion In Winter belatedly needs to build on his two-year-old promise.
The last two could probably do with the rain staying away, an unsettled weather forecast perhaps influencing Ryan Moore's decision to give up the ride on The Lion In Winter in favour of Delacroix.
Pride Of Arras and Damysus, the Dante Stakes winner and runner-up, appeal most of those towards the head of the betting, but the form of the York race doesn't look robust, as there was a muddling pace and the first 10 finishers were covered by just six lengths at the line.
There are plenty of runners who appeal at big prices and this feels like a Derby in which it's worth taking a chance on an outsider. Midak, TENNESSEE STUD and Lazy Griff appeal most on that score.
It's Tennessee Stud who is my selection. Ignore his defeat behind Delacroix on his reappearance at Leopardstown. The winner was race-fit whereas the selection had been given an extended break and is a big horse who would have needed the outing. Plus it wasn't a truly run race.
This test promises to bring out more in him, given he had the stamina to win a Group 1 contest over 1m 2f on testing ground as a juvenile, and the Derby has been the aim since then.
4.15 Epsom – Class 2 Handicap (1m 4f)
SMALL FRY, by 2016 Derby winner Harzand, defeated an in-form rival at Chester last time out, with the two of them finishing clear of the field. He has fair-looking follow-up claims.
The four-year-old has won over course and distance and is taken to reverse Epsom form with Asgard's Captain from April, when Small Fry was making his seasonal reappearance. On that occasion, the winner was race-fit for a contest that didn't unfold to suit the Gary and Josh Moore-trained horse.
5.00 Epsom – Class 2 Handicap (1m 2f)
HORNSEA BAY hasn't built on his juvenile promise in two starts this term, but he didn't run badly when penalised in a useful novice contest at Nottingham on his reappearance and, although he finished an unplaced favourite at Newmarket next time out, he wasn't ideally positioned.
The selection has since been gelded, and this step up in trip – plus ground on the easy side – should suit him if his dam is any guide, as she showed her best form over middle distances on slow going.
5.40 Epsom – Class 2 Handicap (6f)
Any rain that falls will suit SOLAR ACLAIM, who is the subject of an eye-catching jockey booking as the sole ride over the two days at Epsom for useful Irish-based apprentice Patrick McGettigan.
The selection is handily weighted on his best, still with the potential for a bit more.
Today's racing
(Flat unless stated)
Epsom 1.00-5.40
Punchestown (NH) 1.10-5.20
Musselburgh 1.20-4.55
Worcester (NH) 1.50-5.55
Navan 2.00-5.35
Doncaster 4.00-7.50
Hexham (NH) 4.05-6.50
Chepstow 5.30-9.00
Lingfield 5.34-8.40
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Ron Wood 2025 horse racing P/L
Up to and including Thursday June 5
Star ratings explained
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy
⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims
⭐⭐ - tentative choice
⭐ - minimum confidence
