Saturday 3rd June 2023
Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)
Welcome aboard to my preview for the Epsom Derby Festival of 2023 where we have two days of stellar action on Friday and Saturday, with the Oaks and Derby itself taking centre stage. I’ll be previewing both days in full so as ever, if you are having a punt, make sure to do it in a responsible manner.
We kick off at the earlier time of 12:50 on Derby Day with the Group 3 Diomed Stakes over a mile and half of a furlong. This race far from sets the world alight but I think it can go to Highland Avenue for William Buick and Charlie Appleby. He somewhat returned to form last time when finishing three lengths behind stablemate Adayar last time out and has generally been contesting some top-end races throughout the last couple of years. If he’s anywhere near his best he’ll be tough to beat.
The 1:30 is the big one which is of course the Derby which is a prestigious Group 1 event that’s ridden over a mile and four furlongs. I think that this year’s renewal is a solid one as well as being very competitive and I’ve sided with Arrest for Frankie Dettori and the Gosden team. He won impressively at Chester in the Chester Vase on his first outing of the season, and he looks to be a seriously progressive colt. He’s already got form at the top level having placed in Group 1 company last term and he’s got every chance of giving Dettori one last Derby success.
Next up it’s the 2:10 and this is the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes which is set to be ridden over a mile and half of a furlong. I’ve sided with Prosperous Voyage here who represents the combination of Ralph Beckett and Frankie Dettori. She’s a Group 1 winning filly who posted a reasonable enough effort on her seasonal reappearance in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket last month, it’s likely she’ll build on that here and if doing so she should go very closer in lesser company.
The 2:45 is the Epsom Dash for three-year-olds over five furlongs and this is an extremely competitive sprinting handicap. This is a minefield for punters, however, I’ve taken a chance on Betweenthesticks for Jack Channon and George Bass who takes off three pounds. He went down by just a neck on his previous outing at Salisbury, and despite being nudged up three pounds for that success I think his front-running tactics could fare well around here.
The 3:20 is the Dash itself and this heritage handicap over five furlongs is seen as one of the most competitive sprinting contests of the season. I’m going with Clarendon House in this year’s renewal of the race for Robert Cowell and Daniel Muscutt. The conditions he’ll encounter here are perfect for him and he posted a fine effort on his reappearance run at York last month. He represents a yard that have excelled with their sprinters over the years and he’s another smart yardstick that can go well here.
It’s more handicap action at 3:55 with a Class 2 event that’s contested over a distance of a mile and two furlongs. I’ve come down on Torito here for the Gosdens who’s set to be ridden by Benoit De La Sayette. He opened his account when heavily odds on at Nottingham back in April before posting a fine effort at Sandown last time, where he missed the start but finished off strongly to finish second and draw clear with the winner. There’s likely a lot more to come from him and he could prove to be a bit better than this level.
The 4:30 is the penultimate race on the card and this is another Class 2 handicap which is this time ridden over a mile and four furlongs. It’s all about Caius Chorister for me here who currently heads the betting for Ryan Moore and David Menuisier. He’s a dual course and distance winner which is a huge positive around this unique track, and he posted another fine effort here on his seasonal reappearance here in April when finishing second. Another bold bid would be no great surprise.
Concluding the day and the meeting is the 5:05 which is another handicap this time over six furlongs. It’s another course and distance winner that I’m siding with here and that’s Mr Wagyu for John Quinn and Jason Hart. He actually won this race last year and returned somewhat to form last time at York when finishing seventh in a big field handicap. He looks very well treated coming into this and if building on that run from last time he could have a big say.
