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Five horses to follow at Epsom on Derby day
By Harry Allwood
Last Updated: Sat 6 Jun 2026
Five horses to follow at Epsom on Betfred Derby Day! Dave Nevison, Martin Dixon, Andy Stephens (RaceiQ), Ross Millar and Nic Doggett share selections for a day of Classic action, live on Racing TV.
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2.05 Epsom: Shes Perfect
Tipster: Ross Millar.
Best odds: 3-1.
Ross Millar
Finished: 6thSP: 7/2
First past the post in the French Guineas, she failed to give her running on her next start, but returned with an injury.
Her return at Goodwood was positive given it was after a layoff and the fact the slow pace meant the ensuing sprint finish wasn't to her strength. Cut in the ground will suit, as should the stiff finish.
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2.40 Epsom: Jan Brueghel
Tipster: Nic Doggett.
Best odds: 3-1.
Nic Doggett
Finished: 2ndSP: 9/4
Bay City Roller is being underestimated once more, but this looks likely to boil down to a straight shoout-out between last year’s one-two JAN BRUEGHEL and Calandagan.
The last-named has certainly found the winning formula since looking a little awkward in his finishing effort here 12 months ago, and is undoubtedly a better horse than he was, but Aidan O’Brien planned last year’s race to perfection and a similar scenario looks entirely possible here.
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3.15 Epsom: Kinswoman
Tipster: Dave Nevison.
Best odds: 5-1.
Dave Nevison
Finished: 6thSP: 5/1
Another top-class handicap and another William Haggas-trained favourite who looks to have an awful lot going for her.
Kinswoman took a while to get off the mark and was very expensive to follow in the first half of last year, despite being placed on every run. The key to her was the drop down to five furlongs and she won three out of her last four starts, looking better with each run.
She reappeared recently in a competitive handicap at York and just failed to get up by a neck, looking as though she may just have needed the run. She is clearly held in very high regard and carries a Group One Royal Ascot entry, and this traditional dash looks an obvious second start of the season.
She has a stand-side draw which may well be favoured in the prevailing easy conditions, which Kinswoman has proven she handles very well. It is possible this four-year-old filly is a class apart from these useful handicappers.
4.00 Epsom: Benevenuto Cellini
Tipster: RaceiQ nap of the day (Andy Stephens).
Best odds: 2-1.
Sometimes the RaceiQ data can take you in different directions, much like the formbook, but all the numbers are pointing in one direction for this year’s Betfred Derby.
Benvenuto Cellini has recorded a top speed higher than any of his rivals (41.46mph); has clocked the fastest furlong of them all (10.82sec); and boasts the best Finishing Speed Percentage (114.55%).
And perhaps most significant, the Frankel colt also has the biggest average stride and lowest stride cadence, which means double trouble for the opposition as it gives him the capacity to devour ground and stay well.
The horse who resembles 1977 winner The Minstrel dazzled on his reappearance in the Chester Vase last month, when his peak stride measured 8.36 metres. You can quibble with what he beat that day, but not the evidence of the clock.
He got a RaceiQ Time Index of 9.6, when the meeting average was 8, and finished off with four successive “fast” furlongs, completing them in 47.31sec.
We also know how O’Brien’s horses can improve another chunk for their trial run. Three of the stable’s Derby winners - Ruler Of The World, Wings Of Eagles and Lambourn - ran in the Chester Vase beforehand and then upped their game by 11lb and upwards at Epsom.
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5.20 Epsom: Night Breeze
Tipster: Martin Dixon.
Best odds: 9-1 (each-way).
A proven ability to handle the track is always high on my radar when considering a bet at Epsom, and Night Breeze rubberstamped his liking for the Downs with a very easy win over C&D in April.
That was only a five-runner race, but it has been franked since (Asguard's Captain won next time out) and I though, given the ease of that win, the handicapper had taken a chance only raising him 4lb.
He has loads of good runs in competitive handicaps on his CV, and will hopefully get a plum position just behind a strong pace under Billy Loughnane.
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