2009 Epsom Derby Preview

Posted on Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 9:47 am and is filed under Uncategorized.

Venue: Epsom Downs Racecourse
Time: 16:00BST
Date: 06/06

The biggest purse in English flat racing is up for grabs at this weekend’s Epsom Derby, as England’s most talented 3 year old thoroughbreds take the step up to the 1.4 mile trip over Epsom Downs.

A tussle has emerged at the top of the Epsom Derby Betting markets between Derrinstown Derby Trial Stakes winner, Fame and Glory and 2,000 Guineas winner Sea the Stars, with both strongly backed to win the race.

However, Johnny Murtagh’s selection of Rip van Winkle as his mount suggests that Aidan O’Brien’s entry may be the one to watch at Epsom on Saturday, and his price has shortened significantly since Murtagh announced that Rip would be his choice for the race.

Punters who learned their lesson from the surprise win of New Approach last season will not be putting all their eggs in one basket, and there could be excellent value to be had in the longer priced entries in the 2009 Epsom Derby field.

Leading contenders for an upset include Jim Bolger’s Irish raider Gan Amhras and the unpredictable Crowded House, both of whom are priced high enough to provide good value on each-way punts.