Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including Derby fancy at Epsom

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It's Derby day and the eyes of the racing world will be on the Epsom Downs as the three-year-old colts bid for Classic glory and immortality in the prestigious Group One contest. 

Fourteen runners are set to line up in this year's renewal with Aidan O'Brien, leading trainer in the race, bidding for a fourth successive Derby having saddled Auguste Rodin, City Of Troy and Lambourn to success in recent years. Action will be attempting to follow in his half-brother Lambourn's footsteps for the Ballydoyle team on Saturday, with Christmas Day, Pierre Bonnard, and favourite Benvenuto Cellini also representing the Tipperary yard. 

Unbeaten Frankel colt Item comes into the race on the back of an impressive Dante Stakes win at York, whilst Maltese Cross landed the Lingfield Trial when narrowly denying Bay Of Brilliance. James J Braddock landed the knockout blow in the Leopardstown Trial for Joseph O'Brien, and comes into the race with leading claims should he put in a similar effort in this contest. 

Expensive purchases Ancient Egypt and Poker fly the flag for an Amo Racing team who were given an excellent run by King Of Steel a few years ago in the race, whilst the likes of Balzac, A Taste Of Glory, Alderman and the unexposed Rebel Rocker will all have to find significant improvement, but rank outsiders have made the frame in past renewals.

History will be made on the Downs this Saturday afternoon, with the expected rainfall likely to play its part. It appears an open renewal on paper, but the last couple of winners have been dominant enough in the finish and perhaps one colt will emerge as a potential star in the making once again.

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Epsom, 13:30 - Back Golden Mind E/W @ 16/117.00

Whilst he has to find improvement on ratings with the rest of the field, Golden Mind shouldn't be discounted as he returns to Stakes level. He has performed well in recent runs, narrowly beaten at Musselburgh in April before outrunnings odds of 33/134.00 to make the frame in the Victoria Cup at Ascot.

Last season at this meeting, the son of Galileo Gold was narrowly denied in a competitive handicap when sent off at 25/126.00. This a tougher assignment, but he has often given plenty of weight away and emerged with great credit in deep handicaps, therefore could be capable of holding his own at this level.

With course form in his favour and versatility in regards to ground conditions, there's plenty to like about Golden Mind who deserves to take his chance at Group Three level for Richard and Peter Fahey.

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Punchestown, 13:50 - Back Stuntman Steve E/W @ SP

Luckless when forced to be pulled up following a snapped stirrup leather at Tramore, Stuntman Steve may be more fortunate in this two-mile Punchestown contest. He's on a potentially workable mark of 112 if able to put his best foot forward over the larger obstacles, having shown to possess plenty of hurdling ability against tough opposition previously.

The seven-year-old has been slowly improving over fences, and put in a couple of decent efforts during the spring. There could be more to come from him and he is one to note for Gavin Cromwell.

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Epsom, 14:05 - Back Princess Child E/W @ 16/117.00

Five-year-old mare Princess Child could outrun her odds in this Group Three run over an extended mile. Should the expected rainfall have further impact on the ground conditions, a softer surface will likely suit the Joseph O'Brien-trained mare, who has won three times in testing ground.

This season, the daughter of Dariyan's best outing came over a mile at the Curragh when narrowly denied in a Group Three on soft to heavy, and some excuses can be made for her latest defeats, particularly when down the field in a Group Two won by City Of Memphis last month.

A capable performer on her day, conditions should suit Princess Child as she seeks a second Stakes level success in this contest. She won a Group Three at Tipperary last summer, and has plenty of experience in her favour.

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Coronation Cup, Epsom, 14:40 - Back Bay City Roller E/W @ 20/121.00

A fantastic renewal of the Coronation Cup includes a field of six, four of whom are Group One winners headed by the world's highest rated Flat horse in the superb Calandagan. 

The French-raider was narrowly denied by defending champion Jan Brueghel in last year's contest, and a rematch between the pair will be fascinating, with the inclusion of the unexposed improver Convergent as well as dual Derby winner Lambourn adding further intrigue.

Bay City Roller is an interesting outsider, however, far from a forlorn hope with proven top level form on his record. He has to find further improvement to match the level shown by the main protagonists at the head of the market, but may still be on an upward trajectory with the step back up in trip likely to suit.

A Group Two winner as a juvenile, the New Bay colt chased home Opera Ballo on reappearance last season before going on to perform consistently well in Group company prior to landing Group One honours by seven-lengths in Munich.

This season, he has continued his good run of form and perhaps taken another step forward, showing maturity and racing professionally. He was only narrowly denied by Lambourn in the Huxley Stakes, the winner grinding it out on that occasion, and looked to be travelling best of all approaching the final couple of furlongs when beaten two-lengths by Almaqam in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

The George Scott-trained contender has struggled to get past the eventual winners in both of his previous two races, when travelling upsides in great fashion. Whilst this may be a slight concern in such deep waters here, he may be worth another chance over this extra trip as the best could be yet to come from him as a true stayer.

His dam Bloomfield won a Listed contest over a mile-and-three-quarters, which bodes well for his staying credentials should it turn into a real stamina test over this middle-distance in rain-softened ground, and he already has proven form over the trip as well as on an easier surface.

There's plenty to like about Bay City Roller's profile and he could be capable of showing further progression beyond his current rating 118. He has been gaining valuable experience against tough rivals at the top level which should hold him in good stead, and, with an extra couple of furlongs in his favour, could spring a small surprise under Oisin Murphy.

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Epsom, 15:15 - Back Stormy Impact E/W @ 14/115.00

Course-and-distance winner Stormy Impact landed the three-year-old "Dash" at last year's meeting here, beating Lexington Blitz by a length from a rating of 90. She has since won from a 3lb higher mark and put in competitive efforts in defeat, and could be capable of taking a step forward for her return to action at York last month.

The four-year-old filly is on a workable mark of 92 under regular partner Warren Fentiman, who claims 3lb in the saddle. She has course form in her favour and could put in a bold bid in this competitive sprint.

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Epsom, 15:15 - Back Vintage Clarets E/W @ 14/115.00

Another Richard and Peter Fahey-trained contender to consider in the frantic 5f sprint is experienced performer Vintage Clarets. He's more exposed than his stablemate but has dropped to a lenient mark of 83 under 5lb claiming Ethan Tindall, putting him in with solid each-way claims at the weights.

Whilst the seven-year-old wasn't seen to best effect on the Knavesmire in his latest run, he caught the eye in defeat behind Roman Dragon at Chester in his penultimate start, shaping as though he still retains ability and can perform at a decent level. He'll enjoy the cut in the ground and could roll back the years with a good performance in this race.

Vintage Clarets emerged with credit from last year's contest when a decent fifth of 19 runners behind Jm Jungle, when rated 11lb higher, and could at least match that feat this time around from a lower rating.

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Bet of the day: The Derby, Epsom, 16:00 - Back Pierre Bonnard @ 9/25.50

Camelot colt Pierre Bonnard was hugely impressive as a juvenile last term and appeared the type to improve with maturity and experience. He was beaten on debut in a Leopardstown maiden previously contested by his stablemates Delacroix and Scandinavia, before shedding his maiden tag at Dundalk and going on to claim Group One glory as well as Group Three honours during the autumn.

A Newmarket win over Endorsement in good to firm conditions preceded a dominant Saint-Cloud success at the highest level in very soft going, proving his versatility and his improvement as he showed progression throughout his debut campaign resulting in a professional victory in France.

Pierre Bonnard came into this current campaign with plenty of talk surrounding him as a potential solid Derby contender for team Ballydoyle, but he has been beaten twice as short-priced favourite in respective Leopardstown Group Three contests, which initially dampened his Classic hopes.

Vibes have been strong for the colt recently despite his failure to win this term, and his second-placed effort to James J Braddock could turn out to be a nice piece of form in future. The step up to a mile-and-a-half is almost certain to suit and the rain will likely be in his favour too as he reunites with top rider Christophe Soumillon.

There's plenty of stamina in the family and he's out of a three-time Classic winner and top stallion who was a strong stayer for the same trainer. This could be the perfect set-up for Pierre Bonnard, who could finally show the best of his ability on the biggest stage of all.

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Musselburgh, 16:10 - Back Blues And Royals @ SP

Three-year-old gelding Blues And Royals remains unexposed as he faces his toughest task yet. He could still be well treated from a mark of 80, despite being unable to make a significant impression at Sandown when last seen, and has the scope for further progression in only his eighth start.

Things didn't pan out favourably for the son of Space Blues when last seen, and he was unable to get into a threatening position. He did stay on relatively well late in the day and could be capable of better, too early to discount having enjoyed a couple of victories already this term.

Lightly raced with the potential for further improvement, Blues And Royals warrants consideration under Pierre-Louis Jamin and could be dangerous in this 1m1f handicap.

Michael Bell doesn't send many runners up to Musselburgh, but most have been able to make the frame in recent seasons and the yard has an all-time strike-rate of 27 percent at the Scottish track.

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Doncaster, 16:25 - Back Galeron E/W @ SP

Charlie Hills-trained gelding Galeron was forced to be withdrawn following a fall in the paddock at York last month. Given he's over that incident, the likeable six-year-old could be worth keeping the faith in in his return to familiar surroundings at Doncaster.

Galeron had recorded form figures of 4532 in competitive handicaps featuring at least 14 runners in his previous appearances at this track, prior to his return to action in March when far from disgraced but unable to make the frame in the Lincoln. He's yet to win since his debut campaign but has put in multiple competitive efforts in tough contests and enjoyed a decent period in Australia.

On a mark of 94 with 7lb claimer Harry Vigors in the saddle, Galeron makes appeal at the weights considering he's 8lb lower than when fifth in last year's Lincoln and only 1lb higher than when narrowly denied at this venue in October. He's ground versatile and should be capable of making his presence felt in his 35th career start.

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Epsom, 17:55 - Back Twilight Jet E/W @ 12/113.00

Likeable gelding Twilight Jet finished second in this race last year, only narrowly denied when sent off at odds of 33/134.00 from a 4lb higher mark. He's rated 89 coming into this year's renewal, with 5lb claiming Ashley Lewis aboard, putting him in with a chance at the weights off the back of two successes at Lingfield.

Recently, the seven-year-old has returned to form having dropped to a low mark of 74, having once been rated as high as 114. He had caught the eye in defeat on a number of occasions over the past year, but things hadn't gone his way.

In his latest runs, however, he has proven he still has what it takes to win and could continue his good run of form now back up in class from a much higher mark. 

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