Racing Tips: Can Roaring Lion eclipse Saxon Warrior on Derby Day?

Preview and odds for today’s racing

Epsom is the focus for the much-anticipated 239th running of the Derby this Saturday.

Saxon Warrior is odds-on to land the 1m4f test. But with favourites tumbling in every Classic so far this season, could we see another shock at the Surrey course?

The Epsom Dash and the Princess Elizabeth Stakes compliment an action-packed five-race card on ITV. And the Coral News Team have tipped them all up ahead of the big day…

Lion can roar on each-way terms

Even with a duff draw, it’s hard to see past long-time favourite Saxon Warrior for the Derby. But that’s not to say Aidan O’Brien’s star won’t come under a challenge.

Roaring Lion wasn’t embarrassed behind the jolly in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last month. And he followed that run up by blitzing the field in the admittedly much easier Dante Stakes 12 days later.

He looked to have plenty left in the tank that day, which should lend itself to the extended 1m4f trip here. His sire was very impressive over the same distance in the United States, and we think that John Gosden’s charge should be able to trouble the places at the very least.

Anna Nerium set for success

There’s not a great deal to choose between the main contenders in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes. However, while the leading quartet may be separated by just a few points in the market, the Coral News Team think it’s Anna Nerium who should go clear at the finishing line.

Richard Hannon’s charge won a similar looking Group 3 contest at Salisbury last term and followed that up with a decent looking seventh in the 1000 Guineas last time out.

Soft ground won’t be a worry for the three-year-old, who should have too much for her rivals under the guidance of regular jockey Tom Marquand.

Moonlight flit? Try a Sunrise dash

The Epsom Dash is a favourite’s graveyard. Only one winner has returned favouritism since 2002. For that reason, it could pay to look further down the field.

So it’s Bahamian Sunrise who gets the nod from us. The six-year-old has performed well over the same trip in the last 12 months and won over course and distance in late-April.

John Gallagher’s charge has won in big fields before and can get the better of his rivals once again in this wide-open sprint.

ITV Racing Tips:

2:00 Epsom – Poet’s Prince

2:35 Epsom – Anna Nerium

3:10 Epsom – True Valour e/w

3:45 Epsom – Bahamian Sunrise e/w

4:30 Epsom – Roaring Lion e/w

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing