Horse Talk with Simon Jackson:

Top horse-racing tips and the latest news.

This year’s Betfred Derby, the 244th running of the Premier Classic, will be run at 1.30pm on Saturday June 3, the Jockey Club has announced in a statement on their website.

The change to the previously scheduled start time of 4.30pm is a result of the decision to switch the Emirates FA Cup Final at Wembley, which sees Manchester City and Manchester United go head-to-head, to 3pm on the same afternoon.

The Betfred Derby will now be the second contest on the eight-race programme at Epsom Downs Racecourse, with the first due off at 12.50pm. The last race of the day will be run at 5.05pm. The full details of the running order will be confirmed and published in due course.

James Crespi, general manager of Epsom Downs Racecourse, said: “This year, the first Saturday in June will play host to two Derby’s and two of Britain’s great sporting events.

“In order to give fans of both horseracing and football the opportunity to enjoy the Betfred Derby and the FA Cup Final and to maximise the publicity and exposure of these two iconic sporting occasions, which will both be broadcast live on ITV1, we have made some changes to our usual schedule.

“We are grateful to our partners at ITV and our generous sponsors Betfred for their help in facilitating the move, and we can’t wait for what is sure to be a great afternoon for British sport.”

In other news Epsom hosted their first meeting of the new flat season on Tuesday where a mural of two-time Epsom Derby winning jockey Frankie Dettori was unveiled to commemorate his achievements at the track.

The 52ft by 23ft mural is painted on the side of the Duchess Stand and commemorates Dettori’s 2015 Derby win on Golden Horn.

The 52-year-old jockey, who first won the Derby on Authorized in 2007, is set to retire this year and expressed his surprise at being honoured by the mural by street art specialist MurWalls.

“It was a big surprise! I was quite embarrassed when I first saw it, actually,” said Dettori. “I love it. It is amazing, I’m gobsmacked really. Marc and the team at MurWalls have done a great job.

“It’s the young me and the older me. It was my biggest thrill in my racing career – the Derby in 2015 on Golden Horn. I’m glad it is there forever now. It looks great.

“I have mixed feelings. It’s the end of an era, and it’s nice to be recognised with something as big as this. Epsom is a special place for me. I’ve had some great memories, lots of nice winners – two Derby wins, five Coronations, six Oaks. It’s been a good stamping ground for me.

“To be honoured with something like this at one of the most famous racetracks in the world is quite something.”

Frankie Dettori’s mount in this year’s Derby has yet to be confirmed.

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