2010 Epsom Derby Preview and Betting Tips

Posted on Friday, May 14th, 2010 at 11:37 am and is filed under Uncategorized.

The 2009 Epsom Derby was one of the racing highlights of the year, as 2,000 Guineas winner, Sea The Stars, defeated well-backed Fame & Glory to take a rare Derby/Guineas double.

On Saturday the 5th of June the finest 3-year-old thoroughbreds in the United Kingdom will be at it again as they compete in the 2010 Epsom Derby at Epsom Racecourse.

See those Stars?

The winner of the 2010 2,000 Guineas, Mafki, is conspicuous in his absence from the 2010 Epsom Derby field. The colt has been preferred for shorter distance races in France, leaving the door open for another top colt to score Group 1 Classic success at Epsom in June.

St Nicholas Abbey was an initial favourite to win the 2010 Epsom Derby before being withdrawn from the race. He was replaced by another Aidan O’Brien entry in the form of Jan Vermeer. Jockey, Johnny Murtagh, backs Jan Vermeer to the hilt, however his biggest win came at the Criterum International in France last year, and he’s only taken a Grade 3 in 2010.

Workforce is the second in the betting following the withdrawal of St Nicholas Abbey. He’s not the most experienced of colts, with just two races beneath the belt. One of those races was the Derby ‘trial’, the Dante Stakes, where he finished second behind Cape Blanco.

He also has a win in a non-Group event to his credit, but there’s just too little information on this entry to suggest that he’s worth a back bet.

Midas Touch was bumped to third in the betting markets by the departure of the original race favourite. He’s an interesting candidate with a 10 furlong win beneath his belt, and as a winner in the Group 2 Derby Trial Stakes, could be worth an each way punt.

Can their be an Epsom Derby betting upset?

Epsom Derby betting trends tell us that major upsets in this race are the exception rather than the norm. It has been over a decade since a colt price over 10/1 took the Derby, however, this year’s race does have an open look to it. One colt to keep an eye on is Henry Cecil’s Bullet Train. He won the 2010 Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield earlier in the season and is trading as high as 12/1 at some bookies.

2010 Epsom Derby Betting Tip:

The betting picture for the 2010 Epsom Derby looks fairly clear-cut, even though we do scent an upset in this year’s race. We’re happy to lay Jan Vermeer in the Derby and to go each-way on Bullet Train. More ambitious punters may want to spread their money around some real long shots on race day in the hopes of scoring a big each-way payout if a rank outsider places.