Investec Derby Stakes

Epsom Downs

1st June 2019 – 16:30

The richest race in Britain takes place this Saturday, with thirteen runners declared to compete for the £921,538 winning prize money in the Investec Derby Stakes at Epsom Downs.

The Epsom Derby

Inaugurated in 1780, the Epsom Derby is the richest and most famous flat race in Great Britain. It is the Blue Riband event of the turf season, the most prestigious of the classic races, and the middle leg of the triple crown along with the 2,000 Guineas and the St Leger.

Aidan O’Brien – On The Verge of History

Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien is on the verge of making history by becoming the joint leading trainer in Epsom Derby history. Already the leading post-war trainer with six wins, he is just one away from joining Robert Robson, John Porter, and Fred Darling with seven winners.

He has has four winners and eight placed horses in the last ten years, and will saddle seven of the thirteen runners in the 2019 running of the race.

Last year, 4/5 favourite Saxon Warrior was his leading hope and was heavily fancied to win the race but finished a disappointing fourth place.

O’Brien’s hopes will again be led by the betting favourite this year, with the Ryan Moore ridden Sir Dragonet. He also has the second favourite, Broome, and the fourth favourite Anthony Van Dyck, as well as Japan, Circus Maximus, Norway, and Sovereign.

Top Three in the Betting

Sir Dragonet

The son of 2012 winner Camelot will look to land the Derby in only his third start. A winning debut at Tipperary in April, as a 14/1 shot, was followed by an extremely impressive MBNA Chester Vase victory in May.

Priced as one of the outsiders of the seven-runner field, at 13/2, he looked green to begin with but soon showed an impressive turn of foot to finish eight lengths ahead of stablemate Norway.

Has a 100% winning record in this class, as well as on similar ground and over this distance, so should be there or thereabouts come the finish line.

Broome

Broome has looked impressive in two wins at Leopardstown this year, with an eight-length victory over Sovereign in April the stand-out performance of the two. However, Broome has only raced in England once before and that was a sixth placed finish at York in August 2018.

Has markedly improved but is clearly O’Brien’s second hope, as shown by Ryan Moore choosing to ride Sir Dragonet.

Two wins and a place from four runs in this class is a positive, but may possibly have trouble with the going as he has only won once from five starts on similar ground.

Telecaster

The leading British hope has improved with every race and ticks many boxes with regards his chances of glory in the Derby.

A one and a quarter length defeat to Bangkok at Doncaster in March was followed by a dominating performance to finish nine lengths clear of second-placed Deal a Dollar at  Windsor in April. Then came the stand-out performance of his career in May, with victory in the Dante Stakes at York showing he has all the attributes to win at the highest level.

Has two wins and a place from three runs on similar going and has a 100% winning record in the same class, albeit from just one run.

Betting Odds

Betfair currently have Sir Dragonet priced as a 5/2 favourite, with Broome and Telecaster joint second-favourites at odds of 9/2.

Visit Betfair for up to the minute betting odds on the 2019 Investec Epsom Derby and to place a bet on the race.