2023 Betfred Derby at Epsom: the runners, the odds, the verdict and free tip 🏆

A stellar field of 14 runners are set to line up for the Betfred Derby at Epsom at 1.30pm on Saturday, shown live on ITV Racing. This looks to be one of the most open renewals for a long time and here we provide a guide on every runner and provide a free horse racing tip too.

1 Adelaide River

Won well at Dundalk on debut but has run poor races on soft ground since. His pedigree suggests he might improve on faster ground.

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Seamie Heffernan

2 Arrest

Second to Dubai Mile in a Group 1 at Saint-Cloud over 1m2f on heavy but won the Chester Vase impressively and has form on a fast surface.

Trainer: John and Thady Gosden
Jockey: Frankie Dettori

3 Artistic Star

Won a maiden at Nottingham as a juvenile and won at Sandown over 1m2f just 18 days ago. He looks out of his depth in this company, however.

Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Rob Hornby

4 Auguste Rodin

Out of triple Group 1 winner Rhododendron and produced a brilliant performance in the Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster last term. Has to leave a shocking run in the 2000 Guineas behind him and he looks a skinny price.

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore

5 Dear My Friend

Got a Listed all-weather win on the boards at Newcastle over much shorter but was well beaten in the Dante and it’s hard to see him getting involved.

Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni

6 Dubai Mile

Showed huge guts when beating Arrest in a Group 1 at Saint-Cloud in October. Fifth in the 2000 Guineas since but he would prefer softer conditions than this.

Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: Daniel Muscutt

7 King Of Steel

Well beaten off behind Auguste Rodin in the Futurity on final start for David Loughnane last term. Withdrawn from the Dante at the start and clearly has temperament issues.

Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: Kevin Stott

8 Military Order

Brother of King George and Derby winner Adayar and won the Lingfield Derby Trial really impressively. That race usually doesn’t work out that well but he is a major player nonetheless.

Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick

9 Passenger (Free Tip)

Weak in the betting but he was an impressive winner on debut despite being worked up in the parade ring and also ran very keenly through his race. Kingscote gave him a poor ride in the Dante where he really should have won but he can make amends now.

Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Jockey: Richard Kingscote

10 San Antonio

Out of an Irish Oaks second and he has looked good recently, bolting up on the all-weather before Listed success at Chester. The ground is an unknown but he is not one to write off.

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Wayne Lordan

11 Sprewell

Has raced on only soft and heavy ground so the ground is a concern but he bolted up in a 1m2f Leopardstown Group 3 in May. Should stay and if he does handle the ground he is a big player.

Trainer: Jessica Harrington
Jockey: Shane Foley

12 The Foxes

Won the Group 2 Dante at York but the unlucky Passenger was just over a length behind. Still doubt as to whether he will appreciate a step up in trip but he deserves to take his chance.

Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy

13 Waipiro

No match for Military Order in the Lingfield Derby Trial. On that form alone he is best watched unless he can find significant improvement from somewhere.

Trainer: Ed Walker
Jockey: Tom Marquand

14 White Birch

Won a Group 3 at Leopardstown before again running on well late to get within a neck of The Foxes in the Group 2 Dante at York. Can’t afford to be ridden with such restraint in this race but he might run on well late.

Trainer: John Murphy
Jockey: Colin Keane

If you back any of our selections you can watch them live on the free Racing Post app or racingpost.com. Simply log in to one of your bookmaker accounts and click ‘Watch live’ on the racecards.