Epsom Derby Tips 2023: Back this unbeaten 40/1 shot in wide open Derby
All eyes head to Epsom at 13:30 on Saturday afternoon as the 2023 Epsom Derby takes centre stage and this year's running of the Betfred Derby looks a hugely difficult puzzle and our man Steve Chambers has picked out an eye-catching 33/1 shot, who can outrun his odds in what should be a thrilling renewal...
Aidan O'Brien will bid for a record-breaking ninth Derby when the master of Ballydoyle unleashes the likely favourite Auguste Rodin, who failed to show any spark in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, but the Deep Impact colt is fancied by the yard to bounce back to form here. A tremendous winner of the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster at the end of last season, Auguste Rodin was sent off a hot favourite for the Guineas, but he struggled to figure at all at HQ. Sure to improve for the step up in trip here, Auguste Rodin is still held in very high regard, but it's hard to fancy him at such short odds and he could be worth taking here.
Charlie Appleby is attempting to bag a third Derby in six years and the Godolphin handler will saddle the recent Lingfield Derby Trial winner Military Order, who is around the 4/1 mark, at the time of writing, but heads to Epsom in terrific form. A four-length winner at Newbury in April, the Frankel colt then went on to get the better of Ed Walker's Waipiro at Lingfield and that pair will do battle here. That success came on the all-weather, but he has shown his class when winning on the turf during his fledgling career and he has to be one of the leading contenders to go on punters' Epsom Derby Tips shortlist.
Desert Crown was a spectacular winner for the Sir Michael Stoute team 12 months ago and the Freemason Lodge handler will unleash Passenger in this year's renewal - having paid the supplementation fee - to get him in the field. An eye-catching third in the Dante Stakes left many wondering whether he could be a real Derby player, but he may just lack the class to land this prize.
Frankie Dettori is set for his final ride in the Derby as he goes on his retirement campaign and he will partner the exciting Arrest for John & Thady Gosden. Around a 6/1 chance, the Frankel colt was a fine winner of the Chester Vase in soft conditions at Chester and has winning form on much quicker ground and looks a horse still on the upgrade. This is much tougher, but he makes the most appeal out of those at the head of the market.
Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Jessica Harrington has been a revelation on the Flat in recent seasons and she will go in search of a maiden Derby success this weekend and saddles the Leopardstown Derby trial winner Sprewell, who is a major contender at 11/1. A comfortable three length winner that day, the son of Churchill will attempt to kick on from that effort here, but ground conditions will be significantly different as he has been winning his races in soft ground in recent times and he may just lack the qualities needed to sparkle at the top table.
The Dante Stakes at York has always been one of the premier trials and while the abovementioned Passenger could only finish third that day the winner The Foxes will line up for Andrew Balding and could be over-priced. Available at 12/1, the Balding raider was a narrow winner over White Birch that day and that raider is another lining up here and the pair could improve again. Tackling one-and-a-half miles for the first time, The Foxes may just struggle to maintain the gallop in the closing stages, while White Birch could enjoy a bit more cut in the ground.
There's only one unbeaten runner lining up in this year's Derby and that is Ralph Beckett's ARTISTIC STAR, who at 40/1, is regarded an unlikely winner, but he couldn't have been more impressive on the track to date and could well sneak into the frame at big odds. Beckett is often known more of a leading trainer in the Oaks, but he saddled the unlucky Westover in this race 12 months ago, and Artistic Star's wins at Nottingham and Sandown has seen him book his place here. The Galileo colt was staying on eye-catchingly at Sandown on his last start in a novice stakes in mid-May, but with Beckett opting go the Derby route instead of the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot then he must think highly of him. In such a wide open event it's worth taking a chance with a huge priced runner and Artistic Star could ruffle a few feathers here.
Aidan O'Brien hasn't necessarily won the Derby with his first string and eye-catching Chester Dee Stakes winner San Antonio could be another value play at big odds, but the quicker ground could see him struggle in what is a fascinating contest and one of the most iconic events on the racing calendar.
