2025 Epsom Derby Day Tips

Dave Stevos has already posted free tips for the Oaks and Derby, you can check them out here. He has also written a runner-by-runner guide to the Derby, see that here. Hopefully we can find another winner to back up last week’s NAP Balmoral Lady, Dave’s 2025 Epsom Derby Day previews and tips are below.

1.00 – Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3)

A tricky start to the afternoon. We backed Royal Dress in this last year when she really should have won. However, the days of her being available at 33s and 14s have long gone and she is too short for the blog today at just 9/2.

To be honest, it is hard to find any solid each way angles here. Sunfall, who is having her first start for David O’Meara, would be interesting if this were over 7f but I’m not sure she’ll stay this extended mile and she also lacks a recent run.

Chic Colombine, like Royal Dress, was denied a clear run when narrowly beaten in this last year but unlike Royal Dress, she has run very poorly since. George Boughey now sticks cheekpieces on her and the return to this track might spark a revival but odds of 11/1 are a bit on the tight side given how badly out of form she has been.

If they get a lot of rain, Sparks Fly could be the one to be on. She may have needed her below par comeback run in France and when she is in form and gets testing ground, she is a proper weapon. If there is no good in the ground description tomorrow, I’ll probably back her on the nose but with uncertainty about how much rain they’ll get at Epsom, we’ll sit this one out for now. No bet.

2025 Epsom Derby Day Tip: No Bet

1.35 – Diomed Stakes (Group 3)

Royal Dubai is a horse we backed in the Strensall Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting last year. He didn’t hit the frame but he shaped well on his first start for a few months at Ascot in April and I think he could go well back at this venue.

Marco Botti’s charge ran in this race last season and finished a fine second behind Royal Scotsman on good to soft ground. Underfoot conditions will hopefully be similar today and Rossa Ryan, who had a sighter on this fella last time out, keeps the faith.

If the ground turns very soft, it may not be ideal for this son of Seahenge but his two previous runs on good to soft have seen him pick up place money. I’d imagine this race has been a target ever since he ran so well in it last year, hopefully there isn’t too much rain and he hits the frame at odds of 12/1.

2025 Epsom Derby Day Tip: Royal Dubai e/w @ 12/1

2.10 – 3yo Dash Handicap (Class 3)

A high draw is a big advantage in this 5f battle charge. Last year the first four home were drawn 20, 17, 19 and 15. You also want one that handles a bit of cut in the ground and the one that ticks both those boxes at a big price is the Lemos De Souza trained Convo.

By Kodiac, this filly has won one of her eight starts. That win came on debut on heavy ground at Saint-Cloud and two starts later, she chased home Francisco’s Piece in a Listed race at Chantilly, again on heavy ground. In her sole start on good to soft she ran creditably in a 6f Group 2 at Chantilly, so she will appreciate the conditions at Epsom.

Tongue Tied

She wore blinkers for her seasonal reappearance and handicap debut at Chester (5f, good) and while she was beaten 10l, she may have needed that and she now also wears a tongue strap, which suggests she may have some issues with her breathing.

Convo has now dropped to a mark of 85 and on her best form last year, she is capable of getting involved off that sort of rating. She is nicely drawn in stall 12, Tom Marquand is a notable booking, the forecast rain is in her favour and while there are clearly risks attached, Convo is worth chancing e/w for small stakes at odds of 33/1.

2025 Epsom Derby Day Tip: Convo e/w @ 33/1 (5 places)

2.45 – Aston Martin Dash Handicap (Heritage)

The same sentiments apply as far as the draw is concerned in this handicap for the older horses. Before the rain came, I was very interested in Scott Dixon’s One Night Stand who ran a cracker in this in 2023 off a much higher mark. However, his draw in 8 and the inclement weather have put me off him. Watch him hose up now…

The interesting one from a nice high draw is The Bell Conductor for Ivan Furtado and Tom Eaves. His connections will be thrilled with the recent rain and while he has to bounce back from a poor comeback run, that’s exactly what he did when winning at Southwell last January on his second run back from a 248 day break.

The son of Dandy Man has won on good but he relishes rain softened ground. He’s 1lb lower than when winning at Chester last August and just 2lb higher than when making all at Pontefract in April. Hopefully the heavens open for this horse and if they do, The Bell Conductor can outrun his odds of 28/1 from stall 17.

2025 Epsom Derby Day Tip: The Bell Conductor e/w @ 28/1 (5 places)

3.30 – Betfred Derby (Group 1)

I have already tipped Nightwalker up for this race ante-post at 25/1. You can read my runner-by-runner Derby guide via this link. However, if the ground turns very soft it will be an unknown for him so I am going to put up an alternative selection that should cope if the ground does deteriorate.

Amo Racing have previous in this race with big priced runners going well and Tuscan Hills, an emphatic winner on his only start on soft ground at Pontefract last season, is a horse that should relish a bit of easier ground.

Beaten in the Dante on his reappearance on good to firm, he finished seventh but he wasn’t that far behind Nightwalker (0.75l). He’s by Night Of Thunder, who isn’t a stamina influence, but his grand dam won the Oaks over this C&D and his dam is by Sea The Stars, who won this race, so there is a chance he might get this trip.

Tuscan Hills has a nice starting berth in stall 6 and in the hope that some of the others flounder if the ground turns testing, he is worth backing e/w at 66/1 with four places available.

2025 Epsom Derby Day Tip: Nightwalker already advised @ 25/1; Tuscan Hills e/w @ 66/1 (4 places)

-DaveStevos