The Irish Derby betting tips from Horsebetting.com experts for the 2018 renewal of The Curragh’s premier Classic say Dee Ex Bee is the value bet to follow-up on his second in the Epsom equivalent and confirm the form with Saxon Warrior, who is the main danger. Aidan O’Brien’s charge is far too short given what he achieved last time out, while Godolphin’s supplemented runner Old Persian appeals each-way. Find out why when you read our 2018 Irish Derby betting tips preview.Dee Ex Bee can deliver in Irish Derby for JohnstonDee Ex Bee was a gallant, staying on runner-up in the Epsom Derby at the start of this month and is the value bet to go one better for Yorkshire trainer Mark Johnston in the Irish equivalent at The Curragh on Saturday, 30 June (17:15).
Like many of his stablemates, Dee Ex Bee already has plenty of race experience under his belt as he makes the trip across the Irish Sea for this 1m 4f Classic contest. He’s won two of his eight starts – both as a juvenile – and placed in five others.
Those include on reappearance when sent off favourite for the Listed Derby Trial at Epsom over 1m 2f and a never nearer third of eight to Crossed Baton. Connections then stepped Dee Ex Bee up in trip to a mile-and-a-half next time out in the Group 3 Chester Vase.
It brought about improvement, but he still found Young Rascal half-a-length too good. Dee Ex Bee turned the form of that run around at Epsom in The Derby when last in action however, when he also finished in front of Kew Gardens who could re-oppose after winning the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.
Dee Ex Bee’s Epsom Derby display was a huge run at a big price for connections. After settling in midfield and being fifth coming into the straight, he closed on the leaders three out and pressed them over two furlongs from home.
He kept on in the manner of a stayer to take second behind Masar near the winning post. That Epsom form is the best on offer for the Irish Derby, so, at the odds on offer Dee Ex Bee looks decent value to advertise it further with victory here.Saxon Warrior too short but clear danger
Aidan O’Brien has saddled a dozen winners of this Curragh Classic and is responsible for this year’s hot ante post favourite in Saxon Warrior, who is the highest rated in the line-up.
The son of Deep Impact lost his unbeaten tag last time out at Epsom and has three lengths to find on Dee Ex Bee. They meet again here off level weights with that difference reflected in their official ratings.
Based solely on that run, the difference in price should not be as great as it has been in the build-up to this rematch. Saxon Warrior is odds-on and, while it’s easy to make excuses like a slight stumble leaving the Epsom stalls and the lack of a clear run when slightly hampered three out, he doesn’t look value.
Like his Ballydoyle predecessors that have won the Irish Derby – an honour roll that contains the likes of Galileo and Camelot – he commands a ton of respect and is the obvious danger as a Classic winner. Saxon Warrior landed the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when running on strongly during his return to action to score by 1 1/2 lengths.
As a dual Grade 1 winner, including a game neck success in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster as a juvenile, he sets the standard here. Bookmakers are still running scared from Saxon Warrior, who was turned over at odds-on in the Epsom Derby, and backers will hope he can bounce back now racing in the Emerald Isle.
This handsome colt could easily improve on his disappointment last time out, but the value bets lie elsewhere, so it may pay to take Saxon Warrior on.Old Persian each-way valueGodolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has had one of the best months of his career, saddling Masar for the boys in the blue to land The Derby and a couple of Royal Ascot winners. Those include King Edward VII Stakes victor Old Persian, who has been supplemented by connections for this and looks each-way value to make the frame.
This son of Dubawi has won five of his eight career starts, including three of the last four. Old Persian landed a Listed contest at the third attempt at Newmarket having previously scored over the same course and distance in a handicap on reappearance.
He then took the step up into Group 2 company for the King Edward in his stride. After chasing the leaders early on on the outer, jockey William Buick produced Old Persian to lead two from home and he then forged clear when ridden out for a 1 3/4 length success.
The fact that connections are willing to turn him out again so soon after that Royal Ascot victory speaks volumes about their confidence in this colt. Old Persian is one of many that could be quickly racing again from the royal meeting here, but he’s been seen to best effect at the 1m 4f trip.
In a race with two clear market principals in Dee Ex Bee and Saxon Warrior, he may well be the pick of the bunch to chase them home – provided this run doesn’t come too sharply off the back of Royal Ascot. Old Persian is thus a solid each-way bet for the Irish Derby.Your Next Bet
