'The best is yet to come' says Harry Wilson of this Derby outsider as he provides tips for every race at Epsom

Harry Wilson returns with his advice for all eight races at Epsom on Saturday . . . 

1.00 Epsom
Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3), 1m½f

Harry's tip: Skellet

Nothing went to plan last year for Skellet, who was slow to come to hand, but this big-framed filly has the physical scope to flourish as a four-year-old. A Kingman half-sister to the Group 1 winner Skitter Scatter, she got the better of the talented duo Checkandchallenge and Cash in a Listed race at Sandown in September. She wore cheekpieces then and the headgear has been refitted for this. Her turn of foot is a big weapon and she should show her true colours this season. I expect her to comfortably be the best of these.

Skellet13:00 Epsom

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Jky: Rossa Ryan Tnr: Ralph Beckett

1.35 Epsom
Betfred Diomed Stakes (Group 3), 1m½f

Harry's tip: Royal Playwright

The top two in the market are worth opposing as Docklands seems to save his best form for Ascot and Persica isn't sure to be suited by the trip. The one to take advantage is Royal Playwright, who is in receipt of at least 12lb all round. He showed strong form last year, finishing two and a quarter lengths behind Field Of Gold in the Solario Stakes and chasing home Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Royal Lodge, and he has shaped better than the result in two starts this season. He was probably a non-stayer in the Dante and could prove hard to beat down in trip and class.

Royal Playwright13:35 Epsom

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Jky: Oisin Murphy Tnr: Andrew Balding

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2.10 Epsom
Betfred 3YO "Dash" Handicap, 5f

Harry's tip: Blinky

Ruby's Profit has serious gate speed, as she showed when not seeing another rival at Wolverhampton and Goodwood either side of a close second at Chester's May meeting. She has a great chance from stall 18, but at the prices I'd rather side with Blinky, who is drawn next to her in 17. He has improved since joining Antony Brittain in February, notably winning a Southwell handicap with a fair bit in hand in March, and he ran a fine race to finish a length and three-quarters behind Ruby's Profit after a sluggish start at Chester last time. He can reverse form with that rival on 9lb better terms here, with the easier surface in his favour.

Blinky14:10 Epsom

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Jky: Cam Hardie Tnr: Antony Brittain

2.45 Epsom
Aston Martin "Dash" Handicap, 5f

Harry's tip: Fair Wind

Fair Wind was progressive last year, notably recording a Racing Post Rating of 102 when beating next-time-out winner Albasheer at Ascot in July. He blotted his copybook when refusing to race at Goodwood two weeks later, but there were no such issues on his return from 282 days off the track at Chester last month. He was dropped in from a wide stall and never threatened (briefly lost his action after bumping the rail), and he was entitled to need that effort. He looks well treated from just 3lb higher than his last winning mark and should improve.

Fair Wind14:45 Epsom

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Jky: David Probert Tnr: Owen Burrows

3.30 Epsom
Betfred Derby (In Honour Of His Highness Aga Khan IV) (Group 1), 1m4f

Harry's tip: Nightwalker

Nightwalker caught the eye when third in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket in October, not getting much daylight when asked to make his challenge but staying on really encouragingly. He didn't look like he handled the track that day, which looked the case again in the Feilden Stakes on his reappearance, but he kept on nicely into fifth in the Dante last time and there is plenty of hope in his pedigree that he'll stay a mile and a half as he is by Frankel out of a half-sister to the St Leger winner Logician. He's fitted with cheekpieces, which should help him travel better, and the best is yet to come.

Nightwalker15:30 Epsom

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Jky: Tom Marquand Tnr: John & Thady Gosden

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4.15 Epsom
Encore Lifestyle Northern Dancer Handicap, 1m4f

Harry's tip: Maxi King

Maxi King completed a hat-trick when winning at Newmarket in May last year, travelling well and proving suited by the step up to 1m4f, and he bounced back from a couple of below-par efforts in better company when eighth in the November Handicap at Doncaster in October. He is 10lb above his last winning mark, but the RPR he recorded in a Group 2 last year suggests this rating of 100 isn't beyond him. This could be a good time to catch him given he was a comfortable winner off a long a break on last year's reappearance, and he won't mind what the weather does.

Maxi King16:15 Epsom

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Jky: David Egan Tnr: Raphael E Freire

5.00 Epsom
Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Lester Piggott Handicap, 1m2f

Harry's tip: Hornsea Bay

Hornsea Bay looks worth another chance after disappointing when sent off favourite for a Newmarket handicap last month. He raced away from where the main action unfolded then and a subsequent gelding operation could unlock improvement. He showed good form as a juvenile, including when winning on his debut, and a narrow defeat to a now 82-rated rival under a 7lb penalty makes his mark of 87 look workable. There's plenty of stamina on his dam's side of the pedigree and he was entered in the Dante, so the longer trip looks a positive, and this highly regarded son of New Bay should be fine in softer conditions.

Hornsea Bay17:00 Epsom

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Jky: Daniel Tudhope Tnr: David O'Meara

5.40 Epsom
JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap, 6f

Harry's tip: Eye Of Dubai

Eye Of Dubai progressed nicely last year, winning twice and never finishing out of the first four in seven starts. He also produced RPRs of 97 the last twice. That makes a 3lb rise to a mark of 90 look workable and he should step forward nicely from his reappearance in March, when he pulled too hard on ground that was quick enough. Any rain that falls will be in his favour and connections may have had this race in mind for some time as the yard won it in 2017 and 2022, as well as saddling the third in 2023 and last year's runner-up.

Eye Of Dubai17:40 Epsom

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Jky: Jason Hart Tnr: John & Sean Quinn

Read more:

'He looks the real deal' - which colt has got Richard Birch excited in a humdinger of a Betfred Derby? 

Paul Kealy's play of the day at Epsom 

2025 Betfred Derby runners, ratings and key trainer quotes: David Jennings' pinstickers' guide 

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