Horse Racing Tips: Cellini can claim O’Brien’s 12th Derby

There's eight meetings taking place across Britain and Ireland, but our focus is the eight-race card at Epsom on Day 2 of the Betfred Derby Festival, which features the big race itself.

My horse racing tips for the afternoon all come from the Surrey venue, including one for the Classic occasion.

13:30 Epsom - Never So Brave @ 11/8

Andrew Balding is flying high at the top of the trainers' championship at the moment and NEVER SO BRAVE can help him to stay there. The son of No Nay Never began last season as a handicapper and won the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot with plenty in hand.

Connections decided to step him up in grade after that and he came out on top in the Group 2 Summer Mile Stakes. Another step up in class was next on the agenda and he duly obliged in the Group 1 City Of York Stakes at the Ebor Festival.

That form is easily the best on offer here and he’s probably a 7f specialist. Improvement is expected after a below-par display on his seasonal debut and it would take a good one to beat him here.

14:40 Epsom - Jan Brueghel @ 5/2

Calandagan has gone on a five-race unbeaten run but the last horse to beat him was Aidan O'Brien's JAN BRUEGHEL in last year's Coronation Cup.

The son of Galileo wasn't right after a bout of illness last season, but will hopefully be back to his brilliant best now.

Winner of the 2024 St Leger, he showed a good attitude to outbattle Calandagan in this race last year and the softer ground won't be an issue for O'Brien's strong-staying five-year-old.

Horse Racing Odds

He was below his best when behind Calandagan in the King George, but he's clearly capable of much better than that.

It was a much-improved display on his reappearance in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester and he should improve plenty for that run.

There's some value to be found here and another top-level success could be on the agenda here.

16:00 Epsom - Benvenuto Cellini @ 2/1

There's one trainer who has made the Derby his own in the last 20 years or so and it's the great Aidan O'Brien. He has won the race 11 times in total and will be going for a fourth consecutive victory this year, with three legitimate chances.

Ryan Moore will be on board BENVENUTO CELLINI and it looks like he has made the right choice. This son of Frankel was a very promising juvenile last term and he absolutely bolted up in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown in September.

Hugely impressive when winning the Chester Vase on his reappearance, his stamina is now confirmed and there could be any amount of improvement to come.

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