2023 Epsom Derby Tips & Predictions

Worth £1.625 million, the Epsom Derby is one of the biggest races in Europe.

Held at Epsom Downs every June as a part of the Oaks/Derby two-day festival, the Derby attracts huge crowds and it currently holds the title of Britain's richest race.

Named in honour of the party host, 12th Earl of Derby, the race was first run at Epsom Downs racecourse in 1780. The first Epsom Derby was won by Diomed, of which the Diomed Stakes takes its name from.

The Derby idea inspired the likes of the Kentucky Derby, the Irish Derby and the French Derby, known as the Prix du Jockey Club.

The Derby is the middle leg of the fabled Triple Crown. Any colt who can with the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger will be called a Triple Crown winner. 

West Australia was the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 1853. 14 horses have gone on to repeat that incredible feat since, with the most recent Triple Crown winner being Nijinsky in 1970.

In the latter half of the 20th century, Derby Day became more and more popular with the working class. The Derby was then moved to a Saturday, in order to appeal to it's new demographic.

During World War Two, the Derby was run at Newmarket for six years. Dante won the final running of the Derby at Newmarket in 1945.

Champion jockey, Lester Piggott scored nine wins in the Epsom Derby. His most memorable win came aboard the great Nijinsky.

The quickest time ever recorded in the Derby at Epsom was recorded by Workforce, who stopped the clock in 2:31 under Ryan Moore for Sir Michael Stoute in 2010.

Three trainers have won the Derby on seven occasions. Robert Robson, John Porter and Fred Darling are all three-time winners respectively.

The ownership pairing of Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor, which run Coolmore Stud, have owned seven winners and it's a great list of champion winners and future stallions.

Shergar holds the record for length of winning margin. He scored by 10 lengths in 1981 and never gave his opposition a chance.

Galileo, High Chaparral and Pour Moi all became champion stallions and winning the Derby is a significant black type achievement.

Legendary horses like Camelot, New Approach, Motivator and Sea The Stars all won the Epsom Derby after the turn of the millennium.

Wings Of Eagles pulled off an upset in 2017, beating Cliffs Of Moher and Cracksman, despite carrying lengthy odds of 40/1 to post.

In a thrilling finish to the 2019 race, Anthony Van Dyck prevailed ahead of Madhmoon and three of his Ballydoyle stablemates.

There was a huge shock in the 2020 Epsom Derby, as 25/1 outsider Serpentine made all to win for Aidan O'Brien, with 50/1 and 66/1 chances filling the other two places. Charlie Appleby and Godolphin then celebrated their second Derby win, when Adayar joined 2018 winner Masar on the roll of honour.

Sir Michael Stoute ended his ten-year wait for another Derby win when well-backed favourite, Desert Crown bolted up under Richard Kingscote in 2022.