Epsom Derby Tips

Epsom Downs Racecourse Map

Derby Tips From Epsom Racecourse

The undulating one-mile and four-furlong distance, some think, is not an ideal surface for the thoroughbred, and we can think of several courses that would be more suited to holding the Classics.

Ultimately, though, Epsom does provide a true test for a middle-distance thoroughbred requiring all the attributes, balance, speed and stamina.

Results can be a little unpredictable, especially with horses visiting Epsom for the first time, encountering the sharp bends, the switchback course turns left and right, undulations, uphill and downhill, and in the final furlong, cambers to the inside rail.

To get victories over distances greater than a mile at Epsom, you need a balanced horse who can handle the undulations and quirks of Epsom; it can be a stop-start. Speedy types can go off too quickly and then fade.

Around the turns, you need to hold your position and not run too wide, then into the home straight, you can challenge wider.

The top Irish jockeys who come to England for the Group races seem to study the track, knowing it has quirks, and they reap the benefits.

The five-furlong track is the fastest sprint track in the UK, as the course, unlike most other courses, is downhill all the way. If you take a look at past five-furlong races, especially the Epsom Dash at the Derby meeting, you can see how quickly they go time-wise. Sprinters who run well in this race are worth following as the season progresses.

Check Epsom tips from OLBG members who will have tipped and commented on the races, also remember to head over to the racing predictions page for tips on racing from other racecourses today.

Epsom Derby Meeting

Here is the schedule for the two-day Epsom Derby Festival. Each race will be linked to the race blog and detail last year's winner in the table below.

Epsom Draw Bias

✅ With an LSP of +38.14, the most successful stall at Epsom is stall 6 when backing runners over a trip of 7f over the last five years.

❌ Backing stall 5 at Epsom over a trip of 7f is the most unsuccessful stall and trip combination at Epsom, returning an LSP of -63.00 over the last five years.

Here we have the draw bias for Epsom taken into consideration in races with ten or more runners. We will break down the figures by race trips. Draws can be much more important in shorter trips, where runners do not have time to find their position during the race, meaning the draw is probably more important than in races over longer distances.

• Sprints (5f to 7½f)
• Middle Distance (1m2f to 1m5½f)

The following table shows a breakdown of a group of trips and shows how each position of the draw does, for example, in a twelve-runner race would be Low (Stalls 1-4), Mid (Stalls 5-8) and High (Stalls 9-12). The positions will always be the lowest stall number to the highest.

Epsom Jockey and Trainer Statistics

Who are the best flat jockeys and trainers to bet on at Epsom?

A M Balding is the leading trainer here at Epsom with twenty-one winners, but you would have recorded a loss if you backed all of their runners, whilst following Ian Williams would have returned the most winners (nine) from a profitable trainer. When looking at trainers and looking for some eachway value at Epsom, then the trainer who shows the best eachway profit is Adam West, that LSP is +24.85, which has been accumulated by a total of sixteen placings, which includes eight winners. At the other end of the spectrum is J R Boyle, who has a terrible record at Epsom; of all the trainers, their LSP of -64.84 is the worst, they have a 9% strike rate with sixteen winners from one hundred seventy-nine runners.

When looking at the leading jockeys based on wins for those who are also showing a profit when backing all of their rides, then it is Oisin Murphy who comes out at the top here at Epsom with a total of twenty-five winners and an LSP of +15.75. If you are looking for a jockey to follow in the eachway market, then it is William Carson who leads the way at Epsom. They have had a total of ten placings, which includes four winners for an eachway LSP of +35.31. Hollie Doyle does not have a great record at Epsom; their LSP of -40.29 has them stone dead bottom of the jockeys' list, which has come from six winners from eighty-one rides, which is a 7% strike rate.

Epsom Picks & Hints

Here are some factors at Epsom for certain trainers or jockeys which have been profitable:

• 6-13 (46%) +14.00 - Backing B D L Sayette rides when on horses aged 3yo
• 6-9 (67%) +14.88 - Backing William Buick rides when on horses aged 2yo
• 10-24 (42%) +12.62 - Backing Oisin Murphy rides when over a trip of 7f

Epsom Top Jockey and Trainer Combinations

Here are the best trainer and jockey combinations here at Epsom based on the number of winners:

• 11 Wins: A M Balding & Oisin Murphy
• 6 Wins: Charlie Appleby & William Buick
• 6 Wins: A P O'Brien & Ryan Moore
• 5 Wins: J H M Gosden & L Dettori

Epsom Top Trainers By Most Winners and a Level Stakes Profit

Epsom Top Jockeys By Most Winners and a Level Stakes Profit

With a huge combined experience of horse racing between them, this content has been created and is maintained by Darren Brett, James Banting and Andy Powell.

*All of the data for Epsom Racecourse, which includes the trainer and jockey statistics, has been created using statistics available from HorseRaceBase. The data includes all races throughout the last five years (2021 to 2025).

Darren Brett

Expert Guide

Darren has worked in the horse racing industry for decades bringing to OLBG for the last 20 years a wealth of knowledge, creating much of our content on these sports. Darren also manages our Grand National Guide and is the go-to font of knowledge for the world's greatest steeplechase.

James Banting

Expert Guide

James Banting, a passionate horse racing enthusiast and aficionado, brings a wealth of experience to OLBG, having attended numerous race meetings over the years. His background working with the Jockey Association provides him with a unique insider's perspective on the industry.

Andy Powell

Expert Guide

Andy, a seasoned horse racing analyst with over 15 years of experience, delves into the intricacies of all things horse racing, meticulously analyzing complex statistical data to uncover hidden trends. He spearheads the creation and management of OLBG's horse racing trend blogs, providing valuable insights for bettors worldwide.