Epsom Derby Tips 2026: Peaking Pierre or Beckett’s Brilliance?

It's the big one - the Betfred Derby - at Epsom on Saturday (16:00). A field of 14 go to post, competing over 1m4f for a £2m prize fund. Not too shabby...

I've studied each and every Classic contender and landed on two Epsom Derby Tips 2026.

Padraig Beggy on Wings Of Eagles in 2017. Seamie Heffernan on Anthony Van Dyck in 2019. Emmet McNamara on Serpentine in 2020. Wayne Lordan on Lambourn 12 months ago.

Four of Aidan O'Brien's last six Derby winners were ridden by... well, not Ryan Moore. At odds of 40/1, 13/2, 25/1 and 13/2 respectively.

I can see it happening again on Saturday courtesy of PIERRE BONNARD and Christophe Soumillon.

The 10-time French champion jockey, who a couple of years ago pleaded to British and Irish trainers to help him achieve his dream of winning the Derby, has been drafted in to ride the son of Camelot, who at the start of the season was seen as the yard's leading light for the £2m contest.

Months later, that's not the case. Benvenuto Cellini bears that responsibility, while Pierre Bonnard has fluffed his lines on two occasions.

Firstly, on reappearance in the Ballysax over 1m2f at Leopardstown in April, finishing six lengths off the winner, stablemate Christmas Day who reopposes, in seventh.

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He left that effort a long way behind on return to course and distance for the Derby Trial last month, but was ultimately beaten again, by the reopposing James J Braddock who finished with a wet sail to get up right on the line.

Hopefully 'Pierre' is peaking at the perfect time and is ready for a career-best performance on the Downs this weekend. I expect as much.

And that might be enough to see him take the Betfred Derby, for his victories in the G3 Zetland Stakes and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud at the end of his two-year-old campaign represent strong form.

That success in France assumes even greater significance if Surrey is hit by significant rainfall, for it was achieved on ground described as 'very soft'. Another feather in his cap. So is his draw in stall eight. No problems there.

Hopefully that's painted a clear picture of why I believe Pierre Bonnard can provide his trainer with a record-extending 12th victory in the Betfred Derby.

As well as Pierre Bonnard, I'll be having a few quid each way on BAY OF BRILLIANCE for Ralph Beckett.

I'm a fan of the shorter-priced Maltese Cross, who just held on to beat Beckett's half-brother to Absurde by a neck in the Lingfield Derby Trial last month.

The winner was fit, having won a red-hot Newbury novice a few weeks prior, whereas the selection was returning from a 194-day break, so there's every reason to expect a form reversal on Saturday.

That alone gives him a chance of victory, before even considering the amount of improvement to come, on just his fifth start and second over a trip similar to the Betfred Derby.

With our Extra Place Race terms, offering 4 places instead of 3 at 1/5 the odds, he's a cracking each-way bet in my book.

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