Horse Racing Tips: Court to rule supreme at Epsom

It's Betfred Derby day at Epsom and we've got the biggest field in Flat racing's showpiece event since Kris Kin triumphed in 2003.

My horse racing tips for Saturday includes a couple from Surrey - including the big race - alongside one from Doncaster.

13:00 Epsom - Skellet @ 9/2

Betfred Derby Day kicks off with a competitive renewal of the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, a Group 3 event for fillies and mares over an extended 1m, and Ralph Beckett looks to have a likely sort in the shape of SKELLET.

This daughter of Kingman appealed as a bright prospect at 2yrs and kept the highest company for much of last season, but benefitted from the drop in class when landing a Sandown Listed event on her final run, doing especially well given she conceded first run to the eventual second.

With relatively few miles still on the clock, this smooth-travelling filly appeals as just the sort his trainer does well with and she can return in style with the cheekpieces she wore at Sandown again sported.

Any softening of the ground would not hinder her prospects either given she has already shown her effectiveness on underfoot conditions.

Get your stake back (up to £10) as a free bet if your selection in this race finishes 2nd.

15:30 Epsom - Ruling Court @ 11/2

Aidan O'Brien is seeking a record-extending 11th victory in the Betfred Derby and is represented by current market leader Delacroix as well as the much-vaunted The Lion In Winter and third string Lambourn.

After much deliberation, stable jockey Ryan Moore has opted for Delacroix but the draw has not been kind to either Delacroix (14) or The Lion In Winter (19), so RULING COURT looks the one to be on in the more coveted middle berth (7).

There's no doubt that Charlie Appleby's Betfred 2000 Guineas hero possesses the best form on show and his number seven draw should enable William Buick to ride him to optimum effect now he steps up to a mile and a half for the first time.

Those who side against Ruling Court have pointed to his being unproven beyond a mile, but his sire Justify produced last year's winner City Of Troy and his damsire High Chaparral (Derby victor of 2002 on good to soft ground) is a noted stamina influence.

Indeed, after his Newmarket Classic success trainer Appleby made comparisons to High Chaparral in Ruling Court's physical appearance, saying that he has "got that sort of length to him that you can see him as a Derby horse".

Ralph Beckett saddles the unbeaten Dante hero Pride Of Arras as he seeks a first win in the race and he's a fascinating contender, but it could be that at longer odds O'Brien's Chester Vase victor Lambourn proves the biggest threat, especially if the rain comes for this proven stayer.

18:15 Doncaster - Way Of Stars @ 9/2

Doncaster's evening card sees a good bet in the shape of Andrew Balding's WAY OF STARS in the extended 1m6f handicap for 3yos.

Balding took this event 12 months ago and his improving son of Sea The Moon looked a winner in waiting when an excellent second of seven in a 1m4f handicap at Chester last month, running on well having given the well-treated winner Lady Vivian too much rope and pulling clear of the rest.

That effort followed an equally promising reappearance third at Southwell when suffering a poor run and it's clear there is plenty of mileage in his current official handicap mark of 84.

There are others in the line-up with the potential for further progress, but Way Of Stars earns a confident vote to get off the mark.

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