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Fri 03/06/2022 - 04:25 EDT

In-form Nations Pride Can Extend Win Streak in Epsom Derby

On Saturday, June 4, Epsom Racecourse will host the most historic race of the year: its namesake Epsom Derby (G1)! Also known this year as the Cazoo Derby for sponsorship purposes, it is the most famous race of the English Triple Crown series, and the model for the Kentucky Derby and so many other three-year-old races around the world. It is also one of the best betting races of the year!

The race offers a rich £1,125,000 purse. It drew a field of 17 promising three-year-olds to go a mile and a half over the turf, the classic English Derby distance.  The hot favorite is lightly-raced Desert Crown, unbeaten in two starts. However, more seasoned horses will try to test his class and stamina.

Who looks primed to win the Epsom Derby this year? Read on to find out!

Horses bovada betonline gt-bets

Desert Crown

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Stone Age

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Nations Pride

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Changingoftheguard

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Piz Badile

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Star of India

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Betting the 2022 Epsom Derby Online

Before making your selections in the race, first you should make sure you know the best places to bet the Epsom Derby online. Betting online is fun and convenient, since you can play the race from your computer, smartphone, or tablet anywhere there is an internet connection. And, online racebooks let you lock in the best odds the moment you bet!

You have many options for betting online, but our trusted racebook reviews can help you find the best site quickly. All of our recommended sites have trustworthy deposit and cash-out features, great user interfaces, and lucrative bonuses for Epsom Derby players. Our reviews can help you figure out which site has the best horse racing bonus offers for the way you like to play.

Once you have your account, read on and get ready to have a profitable Epsom Derby weekend!

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Epsom Derby 2022 Field

This is the official field for the 2022 Epsom Derby including betting numbers, trainers, jockeys, and post positions:

  1. Changing of the Guard (Aidan O’Brien/Wayne Lordan) - Post 16
  2. Desert Crown (Sir Michael Stoute/Richard Kingscote) - Post 12
  3. El Habeeb (Stan Moore/John Egan) - Post 14
  4. Glory Daze (Andy Oliver/Ronan Wheland) - Post 10
  5. Grand Alliance (Charlie Fellowes/Daniel Tudhope) - Post 17
  6. Hoo Ya Mal (Andrew Balding/David Probert) - Post 3
  7. Masekela (Andrew Balding/Jason Watson) - Post 8
  8. Nahanni (Charlie Appleby/Adam Kirby) - Post 6
  9. Nations Pride (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) - Post 5
  10. Piz Badile (Donnacha O’Brien/Frankie Dettori) - Post 7
  11. Royal Patronage (Charlie and Mark Johnston/Jason Hart) - Post 1
  12. Sonny Liston (Charles Hills/Tom Marquand) - Post 13
  13. Star of India (Aidan O’Brien/Seamie Heffernan) - Post 15
  14. Stone Age (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) - Post 4
  15. Walk of Stars (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle) - Post 9
  16. Westover (Ralph Beckett/Rob Hornby) - Post 2
  17. West Wind Blows (Simon and Ed Crisford/Jack Mitchell) - Post 11

Epsom Derby Handicapping

In recent years, the Derby has belonged to two trainers: Aidan O’Brien and Charlie Appleby. O’Brien, an eight-time Derby winner, has won six of the last ten runnings. Appleby, a more recent force in the race, has won two of the last four runnings with Masar (2018) and Adayar (2021). O’Brien sends out a trio of chances, as does Appleby.

Hot favorite Desert Crown goes out for a yard that has seen Derby success, but not as much in recent years. He is trained by Sir Michael Stoute, who has won five editions of the race, most famously with Shergar in 1981. His most recent victory in the Derby came in 2010 with Workforce.

Epsom Derby Top Selections

When top connections supplement a horse, bettors should take notice. That is the case with Nations Pride, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by first-string stable jockey William Buck. Though he has class to find, never having raced above Listed level, he carries a four-win streak, has the tactical speed to carve out a nice trip, and possesses good breeding for the distance.

Desert Crown has only raced twice, but both of his victories were impressive and the more recent one came in the Dante, a race at York that often grades out well in the Derby. Though he finished greenly in that race, he can mature with more racing and he still finished like a horse who will handle the stretch out to the Derby distance.

In the Derby it always matters to give Aidan O’Brien’s horses a look, given that he has won so many recent editions. Changingoftheguard appears to have taken a smart step forward from ages two to three, and won last out at the Derby distance. Stone Age, likely the heaviest-bet entrant from the barn, has won both three-year-old starts impressively though will have to deal with company on the front end.

Epsom Derby Price Horses

The other Aidan O’Brien horse, Star of India, is worth a look at a price. Though O’Brien is a known quantity in races of this caliber, sometimes his winners are the less fancied ones from his string, particularly when Seamie Heffernan rides. Star of India, like his stablemates, is by superstar Classic-distance sire Galileo. He looked better than ever when winning the Dee at Chester last out, and move forward again third off the layoff.

Nahanni is also one to consider, particularly in exotic wagers. He has not faced this class of horses yet, and only just tried stakes company last out when winning a Listed race at Epsom by half a length. However, he already has a pair of victories going a mile and a half, and has the tactical versatility to work out a trip in such a big field.

2022 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: #9 Nations Pride
  • $10 each way: #13 Star of India
  • $1 exacta box: #2 Desert Crown, #9 Nations Pride, #13 Star of India
  • $1 trifecta box: #1 Changingoftheguard, #2 Desert Crown, #9 Nations Pride, #13 Star of India
  • 20 cent superfecta key: #9 Nations Pride with #1 Changingoftheguard, #2 Desert Crown, #8 Nahanni, #13 Star of India, #14 Stone Age

Epsom Derby Post Time

Post time for the 2022 Epsom Derby is scheduled for Saturday, June 4 at 4:30pm BST, or 11:30am EDT. The race is carded as the fifth race on Epsom’s seven-race Saturday card. The card also includes two other stakes races, the Princess Elizabeth (G3) and the Diomed (G3). It is particularly fitting to have a race named for Diomed on the card, as he won the very first Epsom Derby in 1780.