Epsom Derby Betting Odds: English King favourite

Ed Walker's English King is favourite for the 2020 Epsom Derby on Saturday afternoon, but he will face a host of lively challengers in a thrilling betting heat...

Impressive when storming to victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial last month, English King will attempt to emulate Anthony Van Dyck, who was victorious in the Lingfield Derby Trial before going on to claim Epsom glory, and Walker's charge sits at the head of the Epsom Derby betting, which is a fascinating market. 

Entitled to improve for that success, English King has potential to continue on an upward curve and is one of the standard-setters, but arguably the classiest piece of form on show is from second favourite Kameko.

A Group 1-winning juvenile, Kameko then produced an electric performance to win the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last month, and while there's question marks hanging over whether a step up in trip will see him at his best, there's no denying his ability and he is a clear second favourite with the bookmakers.

With confidence sky high in the Andrew Balding camp following Kameko's Guineas success, it wouldn't be surprising to see him look to challenge English King for favouritism, but with Frankie Dettori having landed the plum ride with the current favourite then you have to feel that the Lingfield winner will start as the race jolly.

Aidan O'Brien has saddled seven winners of the Epsom Derby, and the master of Ballydoyle - who trained Anthony Van Dyck to victory 12 months ago - will unleash a strong battalion of contenders as he looks to make it three Derby wins in the last four years.

However, it's hard to split some of the O'Brien contenders in the betting with recent Royal Ascot winner Russian Emperor and King Edward VII Stakes flop Mogul both hovering around the 7/1 mark, at the time of writing.

The former got the better of First Receiver to win the Hampton Court Stakes, and is entitled to be regarded as the form O'Brien contender, but Mogul is the choice of Ryan Moore and is still certainly proving popular with punters despite his Royal Ascot flop. Sent off an odds-on favourite for the King Edward VII Stakes, Mogul ran below par and it was William Muir's Pyledriver that caused a shock and bagged the prize.

Pyledriver may have comfortably beaten Mogul, but he is still a bigger price than his old adversary in the Derby betting, and the bookmakers are expecting Mogul to reverse the form at Epsom on Saturday, while Mohican Heights was another to feature in that King Edward VII and sits alongside Pyledriver around the 16/1 mark.

Vatican City is another eye-catching O'Brien-trained colt in the Epsom Derby betting, and the Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up will be hoping he can kick on from that fine second to Siskin at the Curragh, and with the step up in trip likely to suit then he could be another major player for the Ballydoyle team.

As we venture further down the betting there are still some lively chances at double-figured odds and Highland Chief was last seen winning in handicap company at Royal Ascot, and around a 20/1 shot is an each-way candidate for many, while the likes of Khalifa Sat and Worthily have more to come on the track and have to be given the utmost respect.