2021 Cazoo Derby festival: essential information for the Epsom spectacular

There is just days to go until the Cazoo Derby festival, featuring the third and fourth British Classics of the season – the Oaks and the Derby – with the two-day meeting attracting the most talented horses, trainers and jockeys in Flat racing.

Held on the picturesque Epsom Downs in Surrey, the meeting is the highlight of the summer for many and crowns the best of the three-year-old generation.

The Oaks (4.30) headlines Friday's action as the year's finest fillies face off before their male counterparts take centre stage on Saturday for the Derby (4.30), the richest and most prestigious Flat event in British racing.

Why is the meeting so important?

Only few racing events successfully permeate the British public consciousness and the Derby, in its 242nd running in 2021, remains one of them.

The honour of oldest British Classic may go to Doncaster's St Leger, but the most prestigious and sought-after title undoubtedly belongs to Epsom.

The Group 1 run over a mile and a half pits the best middle-distance three-year-old colts against each other for a supreme and unforgiving challenge over the undulating track.

Many of history's greatest racehorses have won the Derby, including Sea-Bird, Nijinsky, Mill Reef and Shergar, as well as modern greats Sea The Stars and Golden Horn, who went on to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris later the same year.

Mick Kinane is led in on Sea The Stars after Derby victoryCredit: Mark Cranham

It is the biggest Flat racing betting event of the year and carries a total prize fund this year of £1.125 million, with £375,000 on offer for the fillies-only Oaks.

The Derby also forms the middle leg of the Triple Crown along with the 2,000 Guineas and St Leger. The difficulty of achieving that feat is illustrated by the fact there have been only 15 Triple Crown winners in history, with the last being Nijinsky in 1970.

Which horses are in contention for the Derby?

After several underwhelming trials, Bolshoi Ballet catapulted himself to the top of the market with a dominant display at Leopardstown in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and he boasts some of the strongest form on offer.

The son of prolific sire and Derby winner Galileo replaced his fellow Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate High Definition, who had been strongly fancied over the winter before returning an unsatisfactory blood test prior to his planned reappearance at Lingfield and then managing only third behind fellow Derby hopeful Hurricane Lane in the Dante at York.

Mac Swiney: hoping to follow up his Irish 2,000 Guineas success at EpsomCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

There is one Classic winner already in the mix courtesy of Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Mac Swiney, although his win at the Curragh also provided a boost to Bolshoi Ballet backers given he finished almost seven lengths behind the Derby favourite at Leopardstown.

John Leeper has looked a bit of a handful in his two races this campaign, but has nonetheless won stylishly on both occasions, while Mohaafeth and Third Realm are also in the mix.

However, it certainly can pay to follow those at much bigger prices, as backers of recent surprise winners Serpentine (25-1) and Wings Of Eagles (40-1) can attest.

4.30 Epsom Saturday: Cazoo Derby card and betting

Which horses are in contention for the Oaks?

Despite lacking experience, Santa Barbara is a hot favourite to give leading breeding operation Coolmore a record eighth winner in the race.

She is one of a battalion of stars being aimed at the race by Irish supremo Aidan O'Brien, who has won the race in four of the last six years and also saddles the well-fancied Snowfall and Divinely.

Santa Barbara: favourite for the Cazoo OaksCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

British interests are represented by several contenders to come out of the traditional pre-Epsom Oaks trials.

Noon Star and Teona – second and third to Snowfall in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York – are prominent in the betting as are Cheshire Oaks one-two Dubai Fountain and Zeyaadah.

4.30 Epsom Friday: Cazoo Oaks card and betting

What are the other Epsom highlights?

The Oaks and Derby are not the only Group 1 races of the weekend and Friday's Coral Coronation Cup (3.10) deserves an almost equal billing to the two Classics such is the quality fare usually on display.

Run over the same distance for horses aged four and above, the race often features performers who competed in last year's Classics and can see the best fillies and mares compete against their male counterparts.

Whereas a horse can race in the Derby or Oaks only once, the Coronation Cup often produces repeat winners and in 2013 the Aidan O'Brien-trained St Nicholas Abbey became the first to win three Coronation Cups.

Al Aasy: can the five-year-old return to winning ways at Ascot?Credit: Edward Whitaker

The William Haggas-trained Al Aasy, an effortless winner of two Group 3s this campaign, is the strong favourite to make the jump up to Group 1 company a successful one and the four-year-old would be a fitting winner for owners Shadwell Estate after the death of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum earlier this year.

Two Group 3s – the Princess Elizabeth Stakes (2.35) and Cazoo Diomed Stakes (3.10) – form the undercard on Saturday, along with the blink-and-you'll-miss-it Epsom Dash (3.45) for sprinters run over the shortest distance of five furlongs.

Epsom Friday entries

Epsom Saturday entries

What trainers and jockeys will be competing at the Cazoo Derby festival?

A who's who of Flat racing will descend on Epsom, all eager to etch their names into the history books.

Aidan O'Brien, the winningmost trainer in the history of the Derby, is set to bring a typically strong legion of colts and fillies across from Ballydoyle.

The master trainer has a stranglehold at the top of the betting for the two Classics and Ryan Moore will have his pick of a mouthwatering selection of rides, with the inimitable Frankie Dettori waiting in the wings to pick up the best of the rest.

Newmarket trainer Charlie Appleby won the Derby for the first time in 2018 with Masar and he appears to have the strongest hand of the British trainers. William Buick and James Doyle are the retained riders for Godolphin.

Aidan O’Brien (left): has won a record eight Epsom DerbysCredit: Edward Whitaker

William Haggas could be set for a profitable weekend courtesy of Al Aasy in the Coronation Cup and Mohaafeth in the Derby, while fellow Newmarket trainer Roger Varian has several strong chances as he bids for a second Classic.

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been in excellent form as he bids for a third straight jockeys' title and will be in action across the weekend, as will Hollie Doyle, who was third in last year's Sports Personality of the Year and rides Sherbet Lemon in the Oaks.

Can I still buy tickets?

Crowds in their thousands would usually flock to the south of England for Derby weekend, but capacity this year will be capped at 4,000 due to coronavirus restrictions.

Nevertheless, the eyes of the racing world will be squarely on the Downs for 48 hours and saddling a winner in any of the 14 races held over the two days is a feat to be cherished.

General tickets went to a ballot and sold out immediately, however there are still limited numbers of hospitality tickets available for both Oaks and Derby day, which can be purchased .

So how can I watch the racing?

All of the quality action will be aired on ITV and Racing TV. ITV will broadcast five races on Friday and Saturday, including the Coronation Cup, Oaks and Derby. Racing TV will have full uninterrupted coverage of every race each day.

You can also watch all live races from Epsom through the Racing Post website and Racing Post app. Log in to your bookmaker account and look on the racecards for eligible races. Click the red 'Watch live now' icon and they're off! Find out how here.

Who should I bet on at the Cazoo Derby festival?

Have a look at the and check out our to start with, then stay up to date with the Racing Post website, mobile app and newspaper for our expert betting advice and all the latest news in the run-up to the big weekend.

Read more on the Epsom Classics . . .

'He has tactical speed and a change of gear' – Youth Spirit team back for more

'She's in a good place' – Adam Kirby delighted with Oaks hope Saffron Beach

Aidan O'Brien: 'It will be hard for Ryan Moore to overlook Bolshoi Ballet'

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