Epsom Derby Day: Best bet, each-way selection and treble
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It is Day 2 of Epsom’s Derby Festival on Saturday and they are offering up an excellent eight-race card, which features two top-drawer Group 1 contests.
Obviously the main event is the Derby itself, with Britain and Ireland’s best middle-distance colts going head-to-head, but there is also the small question of another big clash between Calandagan and Jan Brueghel in the Coronation Cup earlier on the card.
Here are some of key pieces of information ahead of Saturday's action, as well as our expert’s best bets at Epsom.
Day 2 - Key info
First race: 13:30 Tattenham Corner Stakes Feature race: 16:00 Betfred Derby
Flat racing does not get much better than this and we are being treated to some top-class action at Epsom on Saturday, with an extremely competitive eight-race card.
The Group 3 Tattenham Corner Stakes (13:30) gets us underway and last season’s City Of York Stakes winner Never So Brave heads the field in that contest.
The first of our Group 1 treats is the Coronation Cup and the world’s best middle-distance horse Calandagan is set to make the trip over. Jan Brueghel got the better of him last year, however, and Aidan O’Brien’s five-year-old also makes the line up once again.
A field of 14 has been declared for the 2026 Derby and the bookmakers suggest it is going to be a clash between Aidan O’Brien’s Benvenuto Cellini and John & Thady Gosden’s impressive Dante Stakes winner Item.
Best bet of the day
Benvenuto Cellini to win the Derby (16:00) @ 2/1
Aidan O’Brien did the Derby and Oaks double last term and both of those winners had won the Cheshire Oaks and Chester Vase beforehand. Chester’s leading Derby trial has produced several Epsom winners for O’Brien over the years and it could be a similar story.
BENVENUTO CELLINI produced a very impressive performance to win the Chester Vase by a wide margin on his first start of the season. The track at Chester can be a decent test to see if horses will handle Epsom and the signs look very positive on that front.
Seeing the trip out strongly on that occasion, clearly stamina will not be an issue and he is likely to take a big step forward now. This son of Frankel has plenty in his favour and it will take an excellent performance from one of his rivals if he is to be beaten.
Best each-way bet of the day
Dream Composer in the Dash (15:15) @ 12/1
Course form can prove to be a massive advantage at Epsom so it is definitely a positive that DREAM COMPOSER won this very race back in 2024. The eight-year-old has dropped to a very nice mark now and a return to winning ways should not be ruled out.
Dougie Costello takes the ride for Tony Carroll and the gelding was last victorious off a mark of 78 at Ripon on seasonal debut — a 6lb higher mark should not be too taxing. He has won off marks as high as 96 in the past and a big run could well be on the cards.
Derby Day acca
Accumulators are amongst the most popular bet types and we’ve got you covered. Here is our Epsom treble and it pays 20/1 with LiveScore Bet.
Bet 1: Back Never So Brave to win the Tattenham Corner Stakes (13:30) @ 6/5
NEVER SO BRAVE was very progressive last term, having started the season as a handicapper, and developed into a Group performer towards the latter stages. He is a 7f specialist and his City Of York Stakes victory is amongst the best form on offer.
Bet 2: Back Jan Brueghel to win the Coronation Cup (14:40) @ 11/4
Calandagan is the obvious choice in this race but he was outbattled by JAN BRUEGHEL in 2025 and Aidan O’Brien’s talented performer could come out on top once again. He was successful at Chester on his reappearance and should be back to his very best now.
Bet 3: Benvenuto Cellini to win the Derby (16:00) @ 2/1
BENVENUTO CELLINI won a Group 2 over a mile at the Curragh by five lengths last term but there is even more to come over middle-distance trips this season. Having bolted up in the Chester Vase, he looks like the one to beat in the Derby.
