Epsom Derby2023: The Foxes can get the right setup
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On Saturday, June 3, Epsom Racecourse hosts the most historic race of the year: the Group 1 Epsom Derby! Also called the Betfred Derby for sponsorship reasons, it remains the most famous race of the English flat-racing year, and the most important leg of the English Triple Crown. It is the inspiration for the Kentucky Derby and major races around the world.
The race offers a £1.5 million guaranteed purse, and drew a field of fourteen to go 1 ½ miles on the grass. This is the classic English Derby distance. With such a huge field and such a stout test, no wonder it is one of the best betting races of the year!
Despite being soundly beaten over soft going in the 2000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket, Auguste Rodin remains the hot favorite for the Epsom Derby, where he is expected to get better ground. However, other horses like Military Order and Passenger are hot on their heels in the betting after better final prep races, and with a stretch out to a mile and a half new horses can step up!
Betting the 2023 Epsom Derby Online
Your first step toward a profitable experience is finding the best places to bet the Epsom Derby online. Playing the races online is fun and convenient since you can do it from your computer, tablet, or smartphone anywhere with an internet connection. Online sportsbooks also let you lock in your odds on major races the moment you bet, so you don’t have to worry about late swings.
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Epsom Derby 2023 Field
This is the official field for the 2023 Epsom Derby including betting numbers, trainers, jockeys, and post positions. Note that, unlike in American races, betting numbers and post numbers typically differ.
- Adelaide River (Seamie Heffernan/Aidan O’Brien) - Post 14
- Arrest (Frankie Dettori/John and Thady Gosden) - Post 13
- Artistic Star (Rob Hornby/Ralph Beckett) - Post 8
- Auguste Rodin (Ryan Moore/Aidan O’Brien) - Post 10
- Dear My Friend (Andrea Atzeni/Charlie Johnston) - Post 1
- Dubai Mile (Daniel Muscutt/Charlie Johnston) - Post 5
- King of Steel (Kevin Stott/Roger Varian) - Post 4
- Military Order (William Buick/Charlie Appleby) - Post 9
- Passenger (Richard Kingscote/Sir Michael Stoute) - Post 7
- San Antonio (Wayne Lordan/Aidan O’Brien) - Post 12
- Sprewell (Shane Foley/Jessica Harrington) - Post 6
- The Foxes (Oisin Murphy/Andrew Balding) - Post 3
- Waipiro (Tom Marquand/Ed Walker) - Post 11
- White Birch (Colin Keane/John Joseph Murphy) - Post 2
Epsom Derby Handicapping
With your betting account set up, it is time to meet the main contenders for the Epsom Derby.
Epsom Derby Favorites
Auguste Rodin is the favorite despite a no-show effort in the 2000 Guineas last out. That raises questions about whether he progressed from his impressive juvenile campaign to this year, especially since he did such good work over soft and even heavy ground last year, and he got that ground last out. Still, Aidan O’Brian puts his “A” rider Ryan Moore aboard, so his world-class connections still have faith, and he should benefit from a strong early pace.
On recent form, antepost second-favorite Military Order has more appeal. The Derby will be a class test, as his only stake event was a win in a Listed race at Lingfield last out. That was on polytrack, but he stayed a mile and a half well and he won over good ground last year at Newmarket. With pace versatility and consistent form, he comes into the Derby live for Charlie Appleby.
Arrest is interesting in that he is actually cutting back half a furlong for this race; he won a Group 3 at Chester last out over soft going. He handled better ground last year, though, which is a positive. But, as Frankie Dettori’s last-ever Derby mount he may be overbet, and with a strong pace expected Arrested may end up just a little too close up to get the best trip. Bet against him.
Epsom Derby Price Horses
The Derby winner last year came out of the Dubai Dante (G2) at York, and the best bet in the Epsom Derby comes out of a win in that race this year: The Foxes. He stepped forward nicely second-up in that 10 ½-furlong race, and he has the late-running style that could get a beautiful setup in this Derby. The firmer ground should suit him beautifully, too.
Dubai Mile also has a chance at a great price. He was only fifth in the 2000 Guineas last out, but that was only over a mile, and it was only his first start of the year. His pedigree cries out for more distance than that, and his victory in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (G1) over 10 furlongs last year. shows it, too. And, in that race he showed he did not need the lead, and could win with a trip that did not go his way.
Sprewell also brings interesting form into the Derby at a square price. In his second start of the year, he won the Derby Trial (G3) at Leopardstown in a romp. The question for him is the pace, since he should be fairly close up to a sharp pace, if not setting it. But, if he takes to better ground (he has only run over rain-affected courses), he is an already-good horse with upside to boot.
2023 Epsom Derby Free Picks
Now that you have gotten to know the field, it’s time to place your bets! Here are the best bets for the Epsom Derby:
- $20 win: #12 The Foxes
- $1 exacta box: #6 Dubai Mile, #8 Military Order, #12 The Foxes
- $1 trifecta box: #6 Dubai Mile, #8 Military Order, #11 Sprewell, #12 The Foxes
- 20 cent superfecta box: #4 Auguste Rodin, #6 Dubai Mile, #8 Military Order, #11 Sprewell, #12 The Foxes
Epsom Derby Post Time
Post time for the 2023 Epsom Derby is scheduled for Saturday, June 4 at 1:30pm BST, or 8:30 a.m. EDT. The race is carded as the second race on Epsom’s eight-race Saturday card, which also includes the Diomed (G3) and Princess Elizabeth (G3). The going is expected to be good, with good-to-firm footing in places, so favor horses who like better ground as opposed to softer.
