Best Epsom Derby betting sites and free bets
THE Epsom Derby returns this weekend with the 2023 edition of Britain’s richest Flat race.
The great race has a new start time this year due to a clash with the Manchester derby in the FA Cup final, so is set for a 1.30pm start.
Last year saw favourite Desert Crown kick clear with just over a furlong to go to land the spoils for Sir Michael Stoute for a sixth time. Westover was the unlucky loser in all of that and connections have opted for that one to run in the Coronation Cup this weekend instead.
We’ve carefully selected the best bets and sign up offers from the industry’s leading bookmakers to make sure you get the best value for money if you’re having a punt on the action this weekend.
Best Epsom Derby free bet offers
Best Epsom Derby betting sites
Can you bet on Epsom Derby?
To put simply, yes!
As one of Britain’s five Classics, the Derby will have plenty of intrigue and build-up around it as we head to the weekend.
That build-up will also come from the bookmakers, with many offering different offers and odds boosts ahead of the action at lunchtime on Saturday.
However, it’s just the same as any other race when it comes to the betting.
You’ll still have the option to bet on an outright winner, back an each-way shot, tip a forecast or tricast or include it in any of your specialty bets like a trixie, patent, lucky 15 or accumulator.
How to bet on races at Epsom
Betting on horse racing online is a very simple process.
It’s virtually the same as doing so in person, simply picking which bookmaker to punt with, picking your selection, putting some money down and collecting your winnings!
Here’s a beginners guide on horse racing betting online:
- 1. Choose Your Favourite Sportsbook – there are plenty to choose from and most have their own app or mobile site. Make sure you shop around for the best offers, odds boosts and prices
- 2. Make a Deposit – each sportsbook will walk you through how to connect your bank account to their system including providing a list of all the safeguards they have set up to ensure the safety of your transactions.
- 3. Claim Your Bonuses – most sportsbooks offers bonuses to first time bettors in the form of free bets. There are plenty of top offers above so check out some you’ve not used before.
- 4. Place Your Bet – now it’s time to navigate through your sportsbook’s odds where they will offer a variety of options including outright winners, each-way options, distance bet (where your selection needs to win by a certain margin) and grouped betting, where they virtually pair off two runners and you select which will finish ahead of the other
- 5. Collect Your Winnings – If you’re successful you will be able to withdraw your winnings once the bet is complete. Some bookmakers offer cash out options on certain bets as well, which is worth keeping an eye on.
Who are the favourites to win at Epsom?
The Epsom festival is across Friday and Saturday, with the Oaks taking place on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Derby.
bet365 have Coronation Cup hopeful WESTOVER as 2/1 favourite on Friday’s card. Westover was the unlucky loser to come out of the Derby last year when finding trouble before powering home to close Desert Crown’s gap. The Ralph Beckett trained runner has had one run this year at Meydan in March, finishing a three-length second to Japanese superstar Equinox in the Dubai Sheema Classic.
bet365 sign up
Bet £10 & Get £30
New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs and time limits & exclusions apply.
The first race of day two sees HIGHLAND AVENUE (13/8 with BetUK) has a good chance to get Saturday off to a flier. Godolphin’s win rate has struggled in recent weeks but his 11/1 third to Adayar last time out – beaten three lengths – reads well enough for a race of this nature and he can be backed to go one better.
In the big one, William Hill have the Aidan O’Brien runner AUGUSTE RODIN as the current 5/2 favourite, having been 3/1 earlier in the week. He was a major disappointment in the 2000 Guineas when going off a short price favourite there. But O’Brien retains belief in this horse who won three of his four juvenile starts and wrote that race off after early interference ruined his chances, with jockey Ryan Moore taking it easy on him after that. Could very well bounce back here.
Which bookmaker has the best betting offers for Epsom?
With the two-day festival hosting two of the five British Classics, it’s a huge event in the horse racing calendar.
As such, bookmakers will acknowledge that and will have had these dates penciled in for some time in a bid to be your selection for the weekend.
It means that you can take advantage of some top offers during this week – especially as a new customer. Each of the 10 bookmakers above have excellent offerings for Epsom, though it’s certainly worth having a look at William Hill.
The bookmaker is one of the best known names on the high street, with almost 100 years of history, meaning they are a safe proposition for your punts.
William Hill sign up
Bet £10 get £30
One that will need to wait until race day, William Hill currently runs ‘Best Odds Guaranteed’ on runners for Epsom. But this only comes into play on bets placed after 10am on the day of the race.
They also have a ‘Pick Your Places’ offer, allowing you to have more insurance on your each-way selections, with the ability to increase number the places involved in that specific race.
William Hill also offer several ‘Top Price Guarantees’, ensuring you won’t be beaten on price by their main competitors. There’s also ‘Enhanced Odds’ to boost the prices of some of their selections, too.
On top of that, if you’re not a customer you can get yourself £30 in free bets when you sign up and stake £10. What’s more, they also offer a daily bet boost, which lets you boost the odds of your Nap for one bet on stakes of up to £20.
What is the prize for winning the Epsom Derby?
As mentioned above, the Derby is Britain’s richest Flat race of the entire season.
The winning connections will receive a staggering £850,650 in prize money if their horse wins.
In total, there’s £1.5million in prize money available for the race.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.