Derby Day 2020 - Tips

The biggest race of the flat racing calendar is here once again. Albeit, slightly altered for 2020.

Despite fears it would have to be moved because of you-know-what, the Investec Derby takes place at its spiritual home on the Epsom Downs on Saturday.

Anthony Van Dyck (right) won another Derby for Aidan O'Brien in a thrilling race last year.

It's a month later than usual, and comes with a bumper card also featuring the Investec Oaks, as well as three other pattern races.

We may not experience two Classics taking place on a single card in this country again, so to preview the day's events, we asked our Matchday FM racing pundits how they see the action unfolding.

13.50 – Investec Woodcote Stakes

Harry Reynolds – The form of Modern News’ win at Newmarket hasn’t worked out at all well, plus his run at Ascot in the Chesham wasn’t exactly brilliant. With the rest of this field not inspiring much confidence, I’ll take TWAASOL to make secure his second career success. He’s got a fair bit of potential and could be anything.

Ben Wignall - A small and select field for Derby day’s opening race, and I’m going for TWAASOL to build on his winning debut. Owen Burrows’ Adaay colt won nicely at Windsor on debut and he will likely run a big race.

Joseph Richardson - TWAASOL looked a really likeable prospect on debut at Windsor and the form stacks up. The second that day Zamaan was only a couple of lengths off Windsor Castle Stakes winner Tactical in a Newmarket novice. Modern News had a hard race in the Chesham at Royal Ascot, so I will be siding with the unexposed Owen Burrows runner.

14.25 – Investec Surrey Stakes

HR – SAFE VOYAGE has by far and away the best form in this race, chasing home Space Blues in a Listed race at Haydock on reappearance. That horse went on to comfortably win a Group 3 in France, and Safe Voyage can find the winner’s enclosure against this very weak field.

Safe Voyage (left) was narrowly denied on reappearance, and can go one better at Epsom.

BW - Shine So Bright had some really nice form last year over this seven furlong trip but SAFE VOYAGE has proven himself to be a real star for John Quinn, and with the best form in the book he should take all the beating here.

JR - If the recent form is anything to go by, SAFE VOYAGE should comfortably win and the punters have latched onto that. A second behind Space Blues at Haydock over 7 furlongs looks rock solid with the latter’s subsequent win in France. The horses in behind have all disappointed recently and it could potentially be a very good weekend for Jason Hart and trainer John Quinn.

15.00 – Investec Handicap

HR – An experienced campaigner, CERTAIN LAD was last seen when 13 lengths behind Ghaiyyath at Meydan in February. He’s very rarely out of the frame, and even considering his monster weight of 9st10lbs, he’s a nice each-way play at the prices.

BW - A tough handicap to work out but IRONCLAD may find a bit more as a four-year-old. He has an attractive pedigree and although he failed to fire in his last start last season, Hugo Palmer chucks him into a Class Two handicap for the first time and he makes some appeal.

JR - I have not found anything low in the weights that could make a real impression here. James Doyle’s mount Desert Icon is a rightful favourite, but at the prices I will take TINANDALI. He was second at Ayr to Nicholas T, a horse I was planning on tipping up for Sunday’s Old Newton Cup Handicap, but is now a non-runner!

15.40 – Investec Oaks

HR – I really can’t see past FRANKLY DARLING here. She was awesome in the Ribblesdale, winning with any amount in hand despite being fairly green, and there will be all sorts of improvement still to come from her. Frankie and Dettori have won this race in two of the past three seasons, and while Love could be a superstar in her own right, it’s a big step up in distance and her price is no sort of value.

BW - The Oaks this year is a two horse race for me, and in FRANKLY DARLING John Gosden has not only a Royal Ascot winner but someone who is proven at the mile and a half trip. The only other real danger is 1000 Guineas winner Love, but it’s easier to side with the horse who you know won’t fail to get the distance.

JR - This race may not have the depth of previous Oaks’, but it has the makings of a great battle between LOVE and Ribblesdale winner Frankly Darling. The latter has been mightily impressive in her two starts this season, but I was so taken with Love in the 1000 Guineas. She looks a very uncomplicated filly and you can be sure that the Ballydoyle team will have her primed and ready for this.

16.15 – Princess Elizabeth Stakes

HR – There was a lot of talk about FOORAAT potentially being engaged in the Oaks, so I fully expect her to be too good for these. Cloak of Spirits is far too keen, and while Love and Thunder could be very decent, Roger Varian’s filly is bred to be the best horse in here by some margin.

BW - Whilst she’s never raced on turf before, FOORAAT could potentially be a superstar after her facile novice success at Chelmsford last time. A full sister to globetrotting star Benbatl, the Roger Varian filly is a worthy favourite here, although Love And Thunder also appeals at a price.

JR - The way the favourite Fooraat won her novice at Chelmsford, she looks like a serious horse and it really wouldn’t surprise me if she won this. But I am going to give ROSE OF KILDARE another chance to prove herself, after staying on nicely in the German 1000 Guineas, and at least place.

16.55 – Investec Derby

HR – I was all over Mogul until he drew the disastrous stall two, which has never produced a winner in this race. English King’s Lingfield Derby Trial victory is shocking form, with no horse in that race going on to win. Kameko might not stay, and Vatican City definitely won’t, which leaves me with RUSSIAN EMPEROR. By Galileo, he stormed home to win the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot, and can give Seamie Heffernan a second consecutive Derby win.

Russian Emperor (far side) stole victory late on at Royal Ascot.

BW - A pretty open renewal of the UK’s biggest classic, it almost always pays to side with Aidan O’Brien. Ryan Moore has chosen to be the rider of Mogul, which means Seamie Heffernan will go for back-to-back wins in this race on RUSSIAN EMPEROR. He stormed home to win the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot and showed a turn of foot that will most likely be crucial on the Epsom turf.

JR – I’m struggling to like the English crop, despite there being two Royal Ascot winners in here. The favourite English King is in my view favourite by default, albeit very good at Lingfield, the race won by last year’s Derby winner. Kameko and Vatican City are not bred to stay. So I am left with a choice that most punters will have between Russian Emperor and MOGUL. Russian Emperor has already had two hard races this year so despite the draw and his run last time out, I am backing Mogul on reputation to prove his worth as Ballydoyle’s leading three-year-old colt.

17.35 – Investec Zebra Handicap

HR – Having been agonisingly denied on Tuesday at Musselburgh, I’m giving MUNTADAB another chance. He battled on really gamely having been headed that day, but was then reeled in and chinned by another rival on the line. He won a handicap over 7f off a rating of 102 in October 2018, and coming here off a mark of 87 he looks thrown in if he can recapture that form.

BW - I fancy the winner of this race last year CORAZON ESPINADO to repeat the feat. Carrying two pounds less than that course and distance success, the horse has impressive form at Epsom, and with Simon Dow training in the area he is tailor-made for success again.

JR - There’s a few things to like about COMIN’ THROUGH. George Scott’s yard has had a couple of winners in the last few days and he has 5lb over the likes of Hateya and Straight Right. He was tried in a 0-105 handicap on reappearance, running behind Royal Hunt Cup winner Dark Vision. But I liked his run in a 0-95 at Newmarket over the 7 furlong trip where he was just beaten a length.

Selections

Harry Reynolds

13.50 Twaasol 2/1

14.25 Safe Voyage 6/5

15.00 Certain Lad 16/1

15.35 Frankly Darling 13/8

16.15 Fooraat 13/8

16.55 Russian Emperor 6/1

17.35 Muntadab 6/1

Ben Wignall

13.50 Twaasol 2/1

14.25 Safe Voyage 6/5

15.00 Ironclad 11/2

15.40 Frankly Darling 13/8

16.15 Fooraat 13/8

16.55 Russian Emperor 6/1

17.35 Corazon Espinado 8/1

Joseph Richardson

13.50 Twaasol 2/1

14.25 Safe Voyage 6/5

15.00 Tinandali 8/1

15.40 Love 5/4

16.15 Rose of Kildare 9/1

16.55 Mogul 9/2

17.35 Comin’ Through 12/1