Best bets for the horse racing Saturday 1st June 2024 - Derby Day

It is Derby weekend and we will in fact be treated to two Derbies with Epsom taking centre stage Saturday naturally for THE Derby plus the French Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club, taking place at Chantilly on Sunday. There are bets to be had here in the UK and abroad on Saturday as I have a couple of fancies. I have dealt with the Derby on the Classics page.

Best bets for the horse racing at Epsom

Highland Avenue is a beautiful looking grey, but one you have to try and catch right; he’s pretty consistent but can put in the odd poor run. He goes on Saturday afternoon in the Group Three 1m½f Betfred Diomed Stakes due off at 2.35 with a 3lb penalty to carry. He has gone well in the past after a break and having been busy over the winter running at Bahrain and Meydan in G.2 and G.2 company he is back on track today after 99-days off. He was second in this last year getting caught close home by Regal Reality; Ryan Moore is back onboard that one and the Michael Stoute trained nine-year-old is an obvious danger if not perhaps the force of old. Charlie Appleby said of his charge this week “Highland Avenue is taking on a couple of familiar faces here and looks to be in good shape. We know he runs well fresh and handles the track at Epsom, so we are hopeful he can be a player.” I am on in the hope today is one of his better days and William Buick can steer him clear to gain revenge on Regal Reality, I have the 4-1. Royal Scotsman dropping from G.1 company can’t be ignored but he was never remotely involved in the G.1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes last month and is best watched for now I would suggest.

Best bet for the horse racing at Churchill Downs

The race of interest to me on the other side of the pond is the Grade Three 1m½f Arlington Stakes at 8.18 our time. Beaten a neck in the G.2 1m1f Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont at the Big A last month Ottoman Fleet is looking to get back to winning ways. Flavien Prat is in the saddle this evening on the Charlie Appleby trained five-year-old, he rode Silver Knott for the yard on that geldings wins at Keenland and Belmont at the Big A earlier this season and is seen as a positive. This looks a good opportunity to notch his first win stateside this season and he is priced accordingly. I am on at 5-4 that I took Friday evening. 

Be lucky