2022 Epsom Derby Tips - Free guide to this famous Classic

This year's Derby will take place on Platinum Jubilee weekend. Her Majesty, The Queen is scheduled to be in attendance at Epsom and she'll hand the famous trophy to this year's winning connections.

Now that the final field has been confirmed, we've taken a look through the betting and picked out our Epsom Derby selections.

The most impressive trial winner on this side of the Irish Sea was undoubtedly Desert Crown, who powered to a three-and-a-half length victory in the Dante Stakes at York. The Queen would relish the opportunity to hand the trophy over to her great friend, Sir Michael Stoute - who hasn't saddled the Derby winner since Workforce in 2010 - so I'm sure Her Majesty will be cheering home the ante-post favourite.

In contrast to Sir Michael Stoute, Aidan O'Brien has enjoyed plenty of recent success in the Derby, saddling six of the last ten winners. Changingoftheguard and Star Of India both won trials at Chester. Stone Age then made all to win the major trial at Leopardstown and he currently sits closest to market leader, Desert Crown.

Frankie Dettori has already been confirmed in the saddle of Donnacha O'Brien's Piz Badile, who edged out Buckaroo to win the Ballysax Stakes on his reappearance. Fellow Irish trainer, Andy Oliver will also have his first Derby runner, as he throws Leopardstown Trial runner-up Glory Daze into the mix.

Lingfield Trial runner-up, Walk Of Stars and Blue Riband Trial winner, Nahanni will represent the red-hot Charlie Appleby, who has saddled two Derby winners in the last four years. Runaway Newmarket Stakes winner, Nations Pride has been supplemented for the Derby by Godolphin, and he can be backed at fairly short prices with some firms.

Westover won a decent renewal of the Classic Trial at Sandown earlier in the season, and will take up his Epsom Derby entry. Dante second, Royal Patronage will carry the Highclere colours into Saturday's main event, with Andrew Balding running both Masekela and Hoo Ya Mal.

Charlie Hills' Sonny Liston and Simon and Ed Crisford's West Wind Blows have taken up their entries. Grand Alliance once-raced maiden, El Habeeb also feature in the Epsom Derby betting.

2022 Epsom Derby Draw

Now that my ante-post selection, United Nations has failed to make the final cut, I need to decide upon a fresh selection for this year's Epsom Derby. Of Aidan O'Brien's other runners, Changingoftheguard appealed most, but I'm always suspicious when headgear is applied to a horse following a victory and O'Brien doesn't often apply cheek-pieces, so to see 'p1' next to his name on the form card has put me off slightly.

It's difficult to get away from Desert Crown. Sir Michael Stoute said his budding star was only 75% fit for his return in the Dante, after suffering a setback in the spring. Yet, Richard Kingscote's mount was still strong enough to hand a Group One winner in Royal Patronage a sound, four-length thrashing.

For a horse with such little experience, Desert Crown is exceptionally composed. This son of Nathaniel travels strongly and possesses a smart turn of foot. I can't see this step up in trip posing him any problems either. 

The only negative with Desert Crown is his price. For me, 7/4 is a little too short to take in a 17-horse renewal of the Epsom Derby. If money comes for the O'Brien and Appleby runners, then he could go off at a longer price, so I'd rather wait until race day to back the market leader.

Only one front-runner has won the Derby this century. That was 2020 winner Serpentine, who poached a 12-length lead rounding the turn and held on to score by five. Aidan O'Brien's surprise winner could finish no better than fourth in any of his subsequent starts, so he has to be regarded as one of the more fortunate winners of the Derby that we've seen.

Stone Age and Changingoftheguard have done their best work when making the running, and both could go forward straight away on Saturday. Jason Hart will be keen to get out of stall one quickly aboard the keen-going Royal Patronage, so I'm expecting this year's Derby to be run at an honest pace.

At the prices, I think the best value bet could be NAHANNI, who beat United Nations and Derby entrant, Grand Alliance in the Blue Riband Trial here at Epsom last time out.

William Buick's mount missed the break from a tricky draw in stall two, but was soon rushed up to take a narrow lead going into the bend. Challengers stacked up to take a crack at Nahanni entering the home straight, but Charlie Appleby's colt wasn't for passing, and held on to claim a narrow victory.

I'm not worried about Nahanni's absence since that victory in April. He'd have needed a break following four quick runs at the start of the year and, in his quotes ahead of the Derby, Appleby has said this strapping son of Frankel has "has turned himself inside out the last four weeks".

Track experience can be vital at Epsom and Nahanni has landed himself a favourable draw in stall six.  Adam Kirby worked his magic on Adayar 12 months ago and I'm hoping he can repeat that feat on this overlooked outsider.