Who will win the Epsom Derby? Our writers’ picks
The 2023 Epsom Derby, with a scheduled off-time this afternoon of 1.30, is arguably the gem of the Flat racing season. Fourteen runners are confirmed for the big race at the iconic Surrey course – and here our writers tell you who they think will win this prestigious £1.56m contest and why.
Odds correct at time of publishing and subject to change.
Take a look at our Epsom Derby betting offers and the best betting sites ahead of the big race.
Who will win the Epsom Derby and why?
Pick 1: Artistic Star @ 40/1 with Betfred – Dean Cooke
I’m going for Artistic Star, as the unbeaten son of Galileo is in with a fair shout despite the long price. An each-way bet is recommended.
A Sandown novices’ stakes win earlier this month was a promising step forward on just his second career start, and trainer Ralph Beckett has high hopes. Before that he won a Nottingham maiden as a juvenile, just as the previous two Derby victors, Desert Crown and Adayar, and 2015 scorer Golden Horn did.
Artistic Star only had his third birthday last Saturday and could be the perfect unexposed type to ruffle some feathers. A further good sign is that his rider for those two previous victories, Rob Hornsby, is on board again.
Pick 2: Passenger @ 11/2 with Betfred – Thomas Reynolds
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute and jockey Richard Kinsgcote have a great chance of following up last year’s Derby victory with the twice-raced Passenger, who finished third to The Foxes in the Dante last time out.
Last year the Bajan knight and his stable pilot combined to land the Epsom Classic with Desert Crown, who was also running in it off the back of contesting the York trial on his second career outing.
Passenger may not have won the Dante, but he experienced enough trouble to suggest he would have gone very close if not denied a clear road on at least two occasions. He may be overpriced here as a result.
Pick 3: Dubai Mile @ 14/1 with Betfred – Calum Weill
Races such as these can often pan out like Hollywood scripts – and while Frankie Dettori on the Gosden team’s Arrest winning his last ever Epsom Derby may seem blockbuster, the story that would really get the goosebumps going would be if Dubai Mile were to take the big prize.
His sire, Roaring Lion, only managed to produce one crop of offspring before his passing. Although the fan favourite did not quite see out the Derby trip, finishing third in 2018, this colt in Charlie Johnson’s care was staying on very strongly in the 2,000 Guineas.
Dubai Mile has now had the widely travelled Daniel Muscutt on board for his five previous outings, a partnership that continues in this race. They have three wins from that quintet, which started at Windsor last August in a novice stakes over 1m – and as fans of Dettori would agree, not least when it comes to the big event, there is something to be said for a tried, trusted and familiar pilot.
Pick 4 Military Order @ 4/1 with Betfred – Connor Whitley
While there is no each-way value in Military Order it is hard to look past the three-year-old who has been bred to win the Derby. He is the full brother of 2021 winner Adayar, by Frankel out of Anna Salai, and also trained by Charlie Appleby.
He also schooled 2018 winner Masar and has every confidence that Military Order can make it four wins from five runs. That sequence includes victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial last month – a positive omen ahead of the big one.
At the time of writing, Military Order is behind only 3/1 favourite Auguste Rodin in the betting but the Aidan O’Brien charge was disappointing in the 2,000 Guineas after being talked up as a potential triple crown horse. Meanwhile, Military Order is only going from strength to strength on his manoeuvres, so he is my pick.
Find horse racing selections for every race, with each runner’s chances rated out of five.
