3:30 Epsom Downs Tips

In a nineteen-runner field over this demanding 1m4f course, the start can be key. Ryan Moore was able to overcome a bad draw in stall 1 when winning aboard City Of Troy last year. He will likely adopt more aggressive tactics aboard DELACROIX this year, who will come out of stall 14. All four of his career wins to date have come from prominent early positions, albeit in much smaller fields. This Dubawi colt comes here having won on both of his starts this season, seeing out the 1m2f at Leopardstown strongly on both occasions. Those two races were both won by Aiden O’Brien-trained Galileo and High Chaparral en route to their Derby victories. He’s versatile on the ground, having raced on a range of surfaces from Soft to Good to Firm. He steps up to 1m4f for the first time today, but the manner of his two most recent wins, along with the positive words of the trainer, would suggest that there is little to worry about in that respect.

Unbeaten Pride Of Arras is one of the least exposed colts in the field having run once as a two year old and then winning the Dante at York a month ago where he led in the last two furlongs and stayed on strongly. Drawn high close to Delacroix he will have to find cover to avoid being trapped wide throughout if he is being held up until the straight.

Race 5 at Epsom today is the Epsom Derby - Group 1 (Class 1) for 3-year-olds over 2,420 m. The suggested wager is for the each way on the 3-year-old colt Lambourn from the Aiden O'Brien yard, and will be ridden by WM Lordan. This Irish-bred son of Australia is an impressive sort and showed them all a clean pair of heels when cruising home in the Gr3 Boodles Chester Gold Vase at Chester last month over this distance. He oozes class and should be the one to beat.

Sparkling form as a 2-year-old and won the Acomb Stakes Group 3 at York in eye-catching style and kept finding more. Disappointed in the Dante when never settling and a bit buzzy throughout the race, eventually finishing 6th, but will surely come on for that race. Discarded by Ryan Moore but has said nothing between the O'Brien horses and a difficult choice, and Colin Keane takes the ride.

On form has no chance but being parachuted last minute into the Derby after an unbeaten in three start to career in a race named in honour of the late great Aga Khan would make even an uneducated form student like me sit up and take notice. Surely from the embarrassment of riches connections own we all have to take note. Looks a well balanced sort who won last time at the left handed Saint-Cloud in good style on good to soft ground and looks likely to stay this far stepping up in trip. Improving sort and ground should be fine so in a very open race could be the one to keep late rapid improvement going and go well. Took 16's earlier in the week and note is being nibbled at and given that I don't fancy loads in here looks a cracking each way bet at the very least. Wouldn't be surprised if he goes off at single figures and if handling the razzmatazz on just fourth start looks a cracking EW punt at the very least.

Stanhope Gardens is progressing with each run and showed a nice turn of foot last time out. Raced prominently in a decent race and kept finding, so stamina shouldn't be an issue at this trip. With further improvement expected, he looks a strong contender to upset the front of the market at 12/1.

Up in trip and the return of James Doyle to the saddle are both big positives for the Gosdens' 3-year-old Frankel colt. The yard is in decent form too.

Won a Grp 1 on heavy ground as a 2yo in France, so if predicated thunderstorms do arrive there will be no going issues. Ran well when keeping on behind today's favourite Delacroix in a Grp 3 Derby Trail over 1.2 miles @ Leopardstown, coming 3/6 beaten 6.75 lengths, but bred to come into their own over this 1.4 miles. Very good upcoming jockey retains ride and top trainer knows how to prepare one for the top races, making current 30/1 very good Ew value here.

Hasn't hit top form yet as a three year old but ran respectably when 5th in the Dante at York last time behind the likely favourite for this race. Was keeping on without getting a vigorous ride and the extra distance could see a much stronger performance. One to consider.

Saeed bin Suroor's trained colt has considerable scope for further improvement and could be well above his current official rating, so gets a speculative vote to land the Derby.

Lazy Griff could be worth an Each Way 4 Places as he won a G3 in France in September and was a decent second on the return from a break last month in a G3 at Chester. He should improve now second up, plus I like having Christophe Soumillon in the saddle for this.

New Ground was closing hard when last seen. The two horses ahead have hardly franked the form in the French Derby, but the horse in behind was a solid 5th there, and this horse had also chased home the French Derby 2nd as well so there is some sort of substance to the form. I felt it interesting enough that this horse has been supplemented even though Juddmonte already had a runner in here (who has already been beaten by Delacroix). Stall 17 is the major negative, although the last two runnings of this with 18-19 runners have seen horses win from stall 14. I’m willing to ignore it, and all of his negatives are baked into his price.

Plenty of outsiders get placed in this great race, and a few have even won, including in recent years Wings of Eagles in 2017, who won at 40/1. This horse fits the Dosage profiles of previous winners and has talented Billy Loughnane riding in his first Derby. His OR of 107 is 10th best but would only need to improve 5lb to be joint 5th best. Charlie Johnston has commented that the horse has been targeted here for a long time.

A very easy winner of both starts last season over 7f and 1 mile. Good effort on seasonal return when only beaten 4 lengths in the Group 2 Dante over 1m2f at York last month on first start for 7 months. Should come on for that run and will be suited if the forecast rain arrives and the connections have had 2 big priced frame finishers in this race since 2021.

This one could well be the little diamond in the rough this year at a huge 150-1. The owner also has Green Storm (also backed each way), and this owner/trainer combo had one run well at a price last year. Others have run in much higher grade races than this, but this is proven over this distance, unlike most of these. Although there are quite a few runners this year, it means more likely an upset. Realistically looking for a place, but if running like Chester, it will get out from a poor draw to lead and could hold on with stamina assured.

Sea Scout is a son of Epsom Derby winner Sea The Stars. He was noted running on gamely when taking a Listed race here in April. The horse was beaten five lengths in the Dante Stakes at York, weakening inside the final furlong, but should stay today's trip. 2-2 on sharp, left-handed tracks, he could go well at big odds.