2026 Epsom Derby Day Preview & Tips – DS
2026 Epsom Derby Day Preview & Tips
A septic start to Derby weekend. Chairmanfourtimes got no luck in running, Dandyman Dan ran no sort of race and it was the same story with Royal Playwright and Great David. Hopefully we fare better on Saturday, Dave Stevos’ 2026 Epsom Derby Day preview and tips are below.
1.30 – Tattenham Corner Stakes (Group 3)
Hopefully we get Derby Day off to a flier with Balmacara. Trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, whose horses are almost always underestimated in these type of races, this son of New Bay was placed at odds of 50/1 on his seasonal reappearance in a 7f Listed heat at Haydock four weeks ago.
Beaten just over 6.25l behind the classy Lake Forest, it was a pleasing effort and given the price he was sent off at, you would imagine he was nowhere near fully revved up for the race. He also finished a couple of lengths in front of Poet Master, an 8/1 shot here.
Retains Ability
It’s been a while since this horse won and he flopped badly on his final two starts of 2025. However, the fact that connections are persevering with the 5yo suggests they think he retains a fair bit of ability and that run last time showed he did.
Is there anything as good as Lake Forest in here? Never So Brave is a good horse, but he hasn’t got the best of records on easy ground so he might be vulnerable, especially if there is more rain. Alcantor won’t mind some cut but apart from him, the rest are only rated 4 or 5 pounds higher than Balmacara so he doesn’t have a huge amount to find to nick a bit of place money. Easy ground is fine for him too so at 28/1, back Balmacara e/w.
2026 Epsom Derby Day Tip: Balmacara e/w @ 28/1
2.05 – Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3)
Sparks Fly was a very unlucky fourth in this last year on ground that would have been plenty quick for her. This year, she gets her ground and she shaped like her turn was very near when running a cracking race at Chester last time. The rain has come for her and I think she could be hard to beat if she gets a smoother trip this time.
Another one that will appreciate a bit of an ease is the Irish raider, Princess Child. Trained by Joseph O’Brien, this daughter of Daryian is a five time winner, including a G3 at Tipperary (7.5f, yielding) last year. Now, it must be said that wasn’t the strongest of stakes races but she proved it was no fluke when a staying on second in the G3 Park Express at the Curragh in April (1m, sft-hvy).
7f Too Sharp
The drop to 7f didn’t suit her next time in a Leopardstown G3 and the ground was lively too. It was also lively last time out in the G2 Lanwades Stakes at the Curragh but she again ran a fine race (even though she finished second last) after meeting all sorts of trouble in running inside the final 1.5f or so.
This extended mile should suit her well, as should the long straight at Epsom. If Sparks Fly adopts front running tactics, she’ll be hard to catch but I can see Princess Child staying on well in the closing stages and hopefully nicking place money at least at odds of 12/1.
2026 Epsom Derby Day Tip: Princess Child e/w @ 12/1 nb
2.40 – Coronation Cup (Group 1)
Now known as the Coolmore Coronation Cup, the sponsors will surely be keen to recoup some of their investment by winning the race (for the third time in row). They run three, with Moore on Jan Breughel (5/2) and Lordan on Lambourn (11/2). Illinois has also been declared and he’ll presumably set the early fractions to set the race up for his stablemates.
However, they might not have it all their own way (although they probably will). The classy Calandagan was beaten into second by Jan Breughel when odds on for this last year but he has won six on the spin since and the bookies reckon he’ll gain revenge. Coolmore won’t mind too much if he wins, though, as he’d be another G1 winner for their sire Gleneagles.
There’s no doubt who they won’t want winning. Convergent carries the colours of Newtown Anner Stud, owned by Maurice Regan, who was involved in a bitter recent court battle with John Magnier. Regan, who is also suing Coolmore at the moment, bred Convergent and I would love to see him win for the comedy value alone.
I’m not going to back anything in this race but I’ll definitely be watching, especially after the race if Convergent does it.
2026 Epsom Derby Day Tip: No Bet
3.15 – Dash Handicap (Heritage)
Back in 2024 I Napped Navello for this race at 14s and he won at 25s. We have come up dry in the last two renewals but to be fair, we were just one place away from landing the e/w money with The Bell Conductor at 28/1 last year.
I am writing this before the 3yo Dash, so I’m not sure whether my theory of the front runners setting it up for a closer has held true. I’m going to stick to my guns here though, especially with rain forecast on Saturday morning.
There’s fair few confirmed front runners in here, including Eclairage, who is an exceedingly speedy filly on her day and if the ground isn’t too soft, she could be hard to peg back. She was reeled in right on the line over Navan’s stiff 5f last time and on this downhill 5f she’d likely show these a clean pair of heels. I’m not sure she’s that well handicapped off 93, however.
Outsider
So, what we are looking for is a horse that likes to come late off a strong pace that handles easy ground. The one that ticks both boxes is The Tony Carroll trained Betsen. By Invincible Spirit, this 5yo got back to winning ways when dropped back to 5f on good to soft ground at Chepstow last time, the first time Cliff Lee rode him.
Lee keeps the faith today, despite the 4lb rise and the fact that this is a much harder race, and it is interesting that the blinkers are going on. Betsen raced keenly early on at Chepstow last time and perhaps Lee thinks that blinkers will help him to race more evenly. He ran ok in them before when trained by Jack Davison.
Class 2 Win
This horse was rated 102 at one stage, and while he clearly isn’t that good these days, he won a good class 2 handicap at Southwell in November off 84 and he’s just 2lb higher here. He also won his maiden over 5f at Down Royal, another downhill 5f, so that bodes well for him handling Epsom.
A slight ease in the ground would be ideal, but very soft ground probably wouldn’t inconvenience him much in comparison to some of his rivals. He’s drawn in five, between the usually prominent racers Democracy Dilemma and Emperor Spirit, so hopefully they’ll give him something to aim at. With odds of 25/1 on offer, Betsen is the e/w selection.
2026 Epsom Derby Day Tip: Betsen e/w @ 25/1 (5 places) NAP
4.00 – Betfred Derby (Group 1)
We are on Bay Of Brilliance at 16s and my reasoning is here. I’m not tipping him, but when it was pouring rain at Epsom earlier this week I had a small e/w ante-post bet on Christmas Day at 25s, simply for the reason that he has won on testing ground. That’s enough involvement for me.
