Betting

Epsom Derby Festival: DOM’S NAP | Saturday’s Best Bet

Can Ed Dunlop win his first Epsom Derby this Saturday?

Published

2 weeks ago

June 4, 2021

Dominic Chapman

Horse Racing - Derby Festival - Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom, Britain - July 4, 2020 Serpentine ridden by Emmet McNamara wins the Investec Derby, as racing resumed behind closed doors after the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Bill Selwy

Epsom Derby Festival: JOHN LEEPER | 4:30pm Cazoo Derby (Group 1) | Dom’s Pick [+£3.87 profit on £1 stakes for Flat NAP’s]

It’s here!

The annual penultimate Classic of the season, the Epsom Derby, is on the horizon and our team have highlighted their best bet of the afternoon in the feature contest.

P8MKJ8 Trainer Ed Dunlop in the parade ring prior The Bahrain Trophy Stakes during day one of The Moet & Chandon July Festival at Newmarket Racecourse. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday July 12, 2018. See PA story RACING Newmarket. Photo credit should read: Simon Cooper/PA Wire — *Duel Oaks winning chief Ed Dunlop could train his first Derby winner on Saturday afternoon*

Despite a series of musical saddles, the highly likeable John Leeper is Ed Dunlop’s first Classic runner for five years and that looks to be a clue in itself.

WATCH: EPSOM DERBY CONTENDER JOHN LEEPER HAS WON HIS LAST TWO STARTS [CREDIT: AT THE RACES]

He is bred like a top-class horse, out of Oaks winning heroine Snow Fairy, so a step up to one-and-a-half miles around this track looks sure to suit.

Horse Racing - Epsom Derby Meeting - Epsom Downs - 4/6/10 Snow Fairy ridden by Ryan Moore wins the 4.05 The Investec Oaks Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Paul Harding Livepic — *John Leeper is out of Snow Fairy, who won the Oaks back in 2010*

After putting a decent field to the sword at Newmarket last month, it appeared that Adam Kirby would take the ride but Frankie Dettori now has the place in the hotseat after Ballydoyle only confirmed one runner for the race, Bolshoi Ballet.

Bolshoi Ballet wins the Ballysax Stakes — *Bolshoi Ballet is the only runner for all-time winning Derby trainer, Aidan O’Brien*

Aidan O’Brien usually flocks many into this event so the fact he is only represented by a sole runner is intriguing, but at the prices, the highly progressive son of Frankel could still have plenty more to give and stall 12 was a lucky charm last year for Serpentine.