Andy Newton’s Saturday ITV Epsom Racing tips on Derby Day

See Andy Newton’s Epsom horse racing tips on Derby Day as he thinks William Haggas can go close with his Lingfield Derby Trial winner Maltese Cross.

Winners last Saturday for Andy Newton included Washington Heights (9/2), Sportingsilvermine (7/2), Opportunity (11/10), Estrange (8/11) and Blue Courvoisier (5/1).

With the first six Epsom races on Saturday also on ITV Racing.

Epsom Horse Racing Tips: Best Bets For Saturday 6th June, 2026

• 1:30 Epsom: NEVER SO BRAVE
• 2:05 Epsom: SPARKS FLY
• 2:40 Epsom: JAN BRUEGHEL
• 3:15 Epsom: STORMY IMPACT / DREAM COMPOSER
• 4:00 Epsom Derby: MALTESSE CROSS (e/w)
• 4:40 Epsom: YORK TOWER
• 5:20 Epsom: TOO SOON (NAP)

🎙️You can also catch Andy’s Epsom Saturday views on the Final Furlong Podcast here.

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Andy Newton’s Epsom Horse Racing Tips: Maltese To Make His Rivals Cross

13:30 EPSOM – Betfred Tattenham Corner Stakes (Group 3) (Formerly The John Of Gaunt Stakes) Cl1 (4yo+) 7f ITV

NEVER SO BRAVE can get Derby Day off to the perfect start for Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding.

The five-year-old blew away the cobwebs when returning in the Group 2 bet365 Mile at Sandown in April and should come on plenty for that outing.

He’s also dropping in grade here, conditions should suit, and having already shown he stays a mile, the slight ease back to 7f could prove ideal.

Alcantor, representing the Oaks-winning combination of Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle, looks the main danger, while last year’s winner Ten Bob Tony — successful when this race was staged at Haydock — can also go well.

🥇 NEVER SO BRAVE
🥈 Alcantor
🥉 Ten Bob Tony

14:05 EPSOM – Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m½f ITV

With more rain potentially on the way, SPARKS FLY gets the vote as the second of the Epsom horse racing tips on Derby Day.

David Loughnane’s mare ran a tremendous race behind last year’s Derby winner Lambourn in the Huxley Stakes at Chester and this looks a more straightforward assignment back in grade.

The six-year-old has registered all 12 of her career wins with some cut in the ground and also ran a highly respectable third in this race 12 months ago.

Snowdrop Stakes winner Pina Sonata, Pacific Mission and last season’s demoted French 1,000 Guineas winner She’s Perfect are next on the shortlist.

🥇 SPARKS FLY
🥈 Pina Sonata
🥉 Pacific Mission

14:40 EPSOM – Coolmore Coronation Cup (Group 1) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m4f ITV

Calandagan sets the standard on ratings, but this is far from a one-horse race. Former Derby winner Lambourn and St Leger hero Jan Brueghel add plenty of depth to the contest.

Ground conditions could be crucial for Calandagan, as any significant rain wouldn’t be ideal. It’s also worth remembering he was beaten in this race last year, so there are still questions to answer around the track.

Convergent is another classy performer, although he’s 0-2 at the highest level, while Lambourn has 10lb and 5lb to find with the two principals in the market.

He’ll also be attempting to become the first Derby winner since Mill Reef in the early 1970s to follow up in this race.

With all that in mind, JAN BRUEGHEL looks the safest option. He landed this prize last season and looked right back to his best when winning the Ormonde Stakes at Chester last time.

Aidan O’Brien has already won this race 10 times and was also responsible for the last back-to-back winner, St Nicholas Abbey.

🥇 JAN BRUEGHEL
🥈 Calandagan
🥉 Lambourn

15:15 EPSOM – Betfred Dash Handicap (Heritage Handicap) Cl2 (4yo+) 5f ITV

Blink and you’ll miss it. Widely billed as the fastest 5f race in the world, the Dash is often decided by the smallest of margins, with luck in running playing a huge role.

Democracy Dilemma catches the eye after finishing second in this race off a higher mark, but he still has 9st 12lb to shoulder.

Instead, preference is for last season’s three-year-old Dash winner STORMY IMPACT, who returns just 2lb higher in the weights.

The 2024 winner DREAM COMPOSER also demands respect and is actually 5lb lower than when successful. Any ease in the ground would be firmly in his favour.

A mention too for Vintage Clarets, who is now rated 83 and was fifth in this race last year off a mark of 94. He looks dangerously well handicapped if everything falls right.

🥇 STORMY IMPACT
🥈 Dream Composer
🥉 Vintage Clarets

16:00 EPSOM – Betfred Derby (Group 1) Cl1 (3yo) 1m4f ITV

Onto the big one, and it’s another Derby packed with genuine contenders.

Benvenuto Cellini is easy to respect after his impressive Chester Vase victory, although I’m still not entirely convinced about the strength of what he beat that day.

Aidan O’Brien’s colt is chasing a remarkable 12th Derby success for his trainer, but at around 2-1 there doesn’t appear to be much value.

Item also made a big impression when winning the Dante and deserves plenty of respect as Andrew Balding bids for a first Derby triumph. He’s a strong traveller and looks the type with further improvement to come.

Since the Derby starting stalls were introduced in 1967, we’ve strangely never had a winner emerge from stall 2 or stall 11, which won’t be welcome news for supporters of Balzac or Action.

The one I’ll take a chance on is MALTESE CROSS, especially if the rain arrives and conditions turn testing.

The Lingfield Derby Trial winner is by Derby hero Sea The Stars and would provide William Haggas with a first Derby winner since Shaamit, exactly 30 years ago in 1996.

He may still need to find a little more and perhaps doesn’t possess the flashy profile of some rivals. However, he strikes me as a tough, determined colt.

If the heavens open, those qualities could prove invaluable.

I’ll take Maltese to make his rivals “cross” and hand Tom Marquand a first Derby victory.

🥇 MALTESE CROSS
🥈 Item
🥉 Action

16:40 EPSOM – Cherryfield (Croydon) Lester Piggott Handicap (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (3yo 0-100) 1m2f ITV

Another fiercely competitive handicap featuring plenty of possibilities, including Hell Yeah He Did, Allegresse and course winner Starlight Time.

However, the step up in trip could bring about further improvement from YORK TOWER, who may provide William Haggas with another winner on the card.

He’s bred to appreciate this longer distance and his latest third over a mile on the all-weather reads perfectly well in that context.

This also marks his handicap debut and an opening mark of 78 looks more than fair.

Whatever happens here, York Tower looks the type who can continue to climb through the ranks over the coming months now he’s tackling a more suitable trip.

🥇 YORK TOWER
🥈 Allegresse
🥉 Starlight Time

17:20 EPSOM – HKJC World Pool Northern Dancer Handicap (GBBPlus Race) Cl5 (4yo+) ITV/RTV

This one won’t be shown on ITV Racing, but TOO SOON appeals strongly.

The course winner appeared not to see out the 1m6f trip at Goodwood last time, so the return to 1m4f looks a definite positive.

He’s also been eased 2lb by the handicapper and gets a further 3lb claim from Warren Fentiman.

The addition of cheekpieces is another interesting angle, while the form of his recent fourth at Ascot has received a boost after Opportunity won comfortably last weekend.

His sole career victory came on heavy ground too, so any further rain would only enhance his prospects. It’s also worth noting that the yard won this race 12 months ago.

Put simply, there’s plenty to like.

Of the others, stablemate Give It To Me Oj warrants consideration. While the in-form Hengest commands respect for the ever-likeable Dylan Cunha team.

🥇 TOO SOON
🥈 Hengest
🥉 Give It To Me Oj