Epsom Derby Free Tips

Rio De La Plata, the mount of Frankie Dettori, looks the value bet at 20/1 with Bet365 Online Bookmaker in the 17-runner Epsom Derby on Saturday June 7, 2008 and he is our free tip.

Rio De La Plata was a Group 1 winner last year at two when winning the Grand Criterium at Longchamp over seven furlongs. We believe Rio De La Plata has given the most solid Derby trial of all when he was second in the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp on his only run this season. He was badly drawn then and had to use a lot of speed to get a good pitch. It was a large 19-runner field and the race was run at a blistering pace. Rio De La Plata was a fantastic, running-on second. There is no doubt that he will improve for the excellent pipe-opener and it is significant that his owner, Sheikh Mohammed's powerful Godolphin operation, relies solely on Rio De La Plata in his quest for a first Epsom Derby victory.

The French 2000 Guineas was a Group 1 race over one mile. The question is whether Rio De La Plata will actually stay the one and a half mile trip of The Derby at Epsom. We believe he will. He has always finished his races with a flourish, and his run in France was no exception.

In the absence of the classy Henrythenavigator, most of Rio De La Plata's rivals at Epsom do not have genuine Group 1 form. Most fall into the "talking horse" category. None more so than the desperately short-priced favourite Casual Conquest who has run just twice, winning a maiden race and a Group 3. It seems strange he can be 4/1 while a Group 1 winner in Rio De La Plata currently trades at 20/1 with Bet365 Online Bookmaker.

The Dante, where Tartan Bearer was successful, was a blanket finish and the form must be slightly suspect. While the other Trial winners such as Tajaaweed and Doctor Fremantle were far from impressive. Yet all these horses are trading at betting odds far shorter than Rio De La Plata at the time of writing (June 4, 2008).

New Approach, the dual Guineas runner-up, is now back in The Epsom Derby picture and he undoubtedly poses the biggest threat. He is a genuine Group 1 horse, a rare thing in this race, who has been crying out for the full mile-and-a-half Derby trip and any cut in the ground will only aid his cause. At around 5/1, trainer Jim Bolger's high class New Approach is nailed on for a place, if not the win. We could not put anyone off backing New Approach but Rio De La Plata appeals as value at four times the odds.

Another we like at an each-way price is King of Rome from the powerful Aidan O'Brien yard. He was running on strongly when runner-up in the Lingfield Derby Trial and looked to need the run. Recent support for him in the betting is significant. But at the moment Rio De La Plata is the forgotten horse in the betting. It would not surprise us to see his price shrink on raceday.

Our advice is to back Rio De La Plata each-way as he will be ridden by the popular 'housewife's choice' of Frankie Dettori. That is a massive positive for the horse's chances but will have a negative impact on his price as the "Frankie Factor" kicks in on raceday. So back our free Epsom Derby tip and selection, Rio De La Plata, with Bet365 Online Bookmaker now at 20/1, before the price contracts. Take New Approach to pose the biggest danger. We reckon the finishing order will be as follows 1. Rio De La Plata; 2. New Approach; 3. King Of Rome.

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