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‘You don’t see that very often.’

A REALITY star has died after she slipped and fell in her bathtub, leading to a fatal head injury.

Kristina Belaya, 24, was at home when she died in the town of Kartaly, Russia on May 30.

Newsflash

Kristina Belaya, 24, died in an accident in Kartaly, Russia[/caption]

She was found with signs of a head injury and bruising on her body.

According to investigators, she seemed to have slipped and fallen in her apartment’s bathroom.

Her injuries were consistent with a fall and there was no sign of a struggle, officials have said.

Her boyfriend is reported to have said the tub partially collapsed as she was getting out of it.

He had been found lying unconscious in the bathroom.

Kristina was a contestant on a Russian dating reality TV series called Dom-2.

But she left after saying she had met someone outside of the show.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.

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NEWCASTLE have announced that Jamal Lewis has been released.

The left-back was a £15million signing from Norwich just five years ago.

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Jamal Lewis has been let go by Newcastle[/caption]

Former England duo John Ruddy and Callum Wilson both see their deals expire at the end of June.

The club has opened talks with both players over extensions.

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..

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A HUGE change to crypto investing rules could come into force as the city watchdog issues a warning.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is set to lift a ban on some investments for individual, or retail, investors.

Alamy

The FCA is mooting lifting a ban for individual investors[/caption]

The watchdog has launched a consultation looking at allowing them to access crypto exchange-traded notes (cETNs).

Crypto ETNs can be bought and sold and work by tracking the performance of cryptoassets like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

It means people are exposed to its changing value without needing to hold the asset themselves.

Currently, just professional investors are allowed to buy and sell the investment product after the FCA granted them access last year.

At the time, the regulator said it still believed crypto ETNs to be “ill-suited for retail consumers due to the harm they pose”.

David Geale, the FCA’s executive director of payments and digital assets, said the proposals today reflected how the FCA was committed “to supporting the growth and competitiveness of the UK’s crypto industry”.

However, he added: “We want to rebalance our approach to risk and lifting the ban would allow people to make the choice on whether such a high-risk investment is right for them given they could lose all their money.”

Access to crypto derivatives would still be banned for retail investors – but the FCA said it would continue to consider its approach to high-risk investments.

In April, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she wanted the UK to be a “world leader in digital assets” and announced plans to make crypto firms subject to regulation in the same way as traditional finance companies.

“While the UK will always be committed to high international standards, I am determined that our regulatory framework supports economic growth,” she said at the time.

But the FCA’s chairman Nikhil Rathi recently warned that the number of young people turning to crypto as their first taste of investment was “not great”, adding that it was “very high risk and you could potentially lose all your money”.

The price of Bitcoin hit a fresh all-time high last month, topping about 111,000 dollars (£82,000) as the crypto market rallies amid support from Donald Trump’s administration in the US.

What is cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrencies differ from physical currencies, such as the pound.

They are created using blockchain technology and part of their appeal is that they are not controlled by governments or a central bank, such as the Bank of England.

It means the currency can be used to transfer wealth outside of the traditional banking system, making it easier to cross borders or stay anonymous when moving wealth.

Bitcoin is the leading cryptocurrency but its rise has helped other cryptocurrencies also grow in value, such as Ethereum.

In recent years, more mainstream companies and institutions have invested in cryptocurrency, and part of the recent rise in value is based on President Trump‘s favourable views on cryptocurrency.

How do people invest in crypto?

In the UK, you cannot invest in cryptocurrency funds through stocks and shares ISAs, general investment accounts, or pensions due to regulations.

If you want to invest in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, you’ll need to use specialist trading platforms like Coin Bureau or PlanB.

These platforms allow you to own crypto as a financial asset, though some accounts may not let you spend it.

Crypto businesses in the UK must register with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

To check if a business is registered, visit the Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk/s/search?predefined=CA.

There’s also a list of unregistered businesses at register.fca.org.uk/s/search?predefined=U.

Businesses on this list may be operating illegally.

If you don’t want to invest in cryptocurrencies directly, you can still gain exposure to the market by investing in companies involved in the crypto space.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

VLADIMIR Putin is plotting a final killer offensive along three fronts to win the war, a new report claims.

It comes as the Russian army nears one million casualties in its bungled three-year-old invasion and peace talks stall.

Shutterstock Editorial

Ukrainian troops fire at Russia in Donetsk[/caption]

AFP

Ukrainian soldiers take cover as they fire a canon towards Russian positions in Kharkiv[/caption]

Getty

Russia has been attacking the Donetsk city of Kramatorsk since the beginning of the war[/caption]

The tyrant is still looking for a knockout blow despite initially saying he would win the war in a matter of days.

Putin is hoping to change that this summer, with a widely expected fresh offensive to begin.

Some 125,000 Russian soldiers are reportedly massing along the Sumy and Kharkiv frontiers, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence.

Over the past fortnight border villages have fallen to Russia as it is believed to be preparing the ground for the invasion.

But some senior commanders in Ukraine believe that could be a feint and Russia is actually preparing to attack further south to push further into the Donbas, Ukraine Pravda reports.

Russia is likely to attack through three areas near each other in the Donbas – Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka, and Pokrovsk.

Vlad already controls more than 95 per cent of Luhansk, but capturing Donetsk would cement his control over the Donbas region and achieve a war aim, albeit a scaled-down one.

The Donbas is an important industrial and mining area – and some 200,000 to 300,000 people still live in four cities controlled by Ukraine.

Moscow’s military planners will be weighing up whether they want to fight through the cities like they did in Bakhmut or encircle them by going around through farmland.

Kramatorsk is the closest city to the front line and is under constant attack by Russia.

A recent drone strike managed to get inside an armoured vehicle carrying Ukrainian soldiers.

Russia has an opportunity to conduct a pincer movement around Kostiantynivka with its soldiers controlling land to the east and west of the city.

Instead of attacking the city directly, the could bypass it and attack Druzhkivka behind it – thereby cutting Kostiantynivka and any Ukrainian soldiers still there off.

In nearby Pokrovsk, Russia already has a salient, a bulge, out from the front line after a previous advance.

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Ukrainian soldiers fly a drone near Pokrovsk[/caption]

Reuters

Members of Ukraine’s White Angel police unit evacuate people from Pokrovsk[/caption]

Ukraine reports also daily contact with Russian troops in the area.

The Pokrovsk front line is also very near Dnipropetrovsk Oblast – a region of Ukraine the Kremlin hasn’t yet officially claimed.

A successful breakthrough there might mean Putin can actually expand his war goals.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is prepared for a summer offensive and has publicly said Russia is set to escalate the war.

His officials believe peace talks are a ruse – with Putin only wanting to talk to demand the terms of surrender.

The Ukrainians will not give in and any advance by Russia is going to come at a high cost.

Vlad’s army has been making incremental gains along the front line, with troops overwhelming Ukraine in meat grinder assaults.

But for that Russia has suffered 434,000 dead and wounded in the last year, 270 for every square mile they have seized.

Reuters

Residents ride bicycles at a street near buildings in Pokrovsk[/caption]

Getty

Firefighters extinguish a fire in Kostiantynivka[/caption]

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Ukrainian firefighters battle a blaze after a building was bombed by Russians[/caption]

Ukraine has used drones and Western-supplied arms to grind the Russians down into a WW1-style trench war.

But observers worry a massive new Russian offensive could break the deadlock.

Moscow has spent the winter recruiting more troops, improving tactics, and enhancing their drones.

An offensive likely won’t use tanks, Polish military analyst Konrad Muzyka told the Telegraph.

He said, instead, Russian troops were advancing using lighter motors.

Muzyka said: “Any large-scale deployment of armour is going to be destroyed relatively quickly.

“We have seen the Russians shift to focused, small-unit attacks, often of just three to five men. Company-size assaults of 50 to 100 men hardly ever happen anymore.”

Donald Trump has said he expects Putin’s retaliation following the stunning Opertion Spiderweb “is not going to be pretty”.

The US President spoke to Vlad on Wednesday – with the Russian saying, according to Trump, he would “have to respond”.

The call followed Operation Spiderweb — a daring Ukrainian drone blitz that wrecked 41 Russian planes across four strategic airfields, in a coordinated assault likened to WWII’s most audacious missions.

Its around this time of year that your garden could do with a good feed.

And happily our friends at Westland are offering up two fantastic bundles of plant feed for pretty much every occasion.

The bundle includes tomato, hydrangea and rose feed.

As well as a lawn liquid and bug feed.

To enter fill in the form below.

Or write to Sun Westland Boost competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP.

Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. June 28, 2025.

T&Cs apply.

A LOVE Island legend has revealed he spent the night with new Islander Sophie Lee after meeting her on a night out. 

Sophie, 29, is one of the brand-new singletons who will enter the Love Island villa on Monday night. 

Instagram

Instagram

Instagram

And Anton Danyluk – who first shot to fame on the 2019 series – has shared how he bumped into the former fire breather last year and ended up in a hotel room with her. 

Writing on Instagram, Anton, 30, said: “Let’s just say we didn’t get much sleep… 

“Last October, I was on a night out and bumped into one of my mates who happened to be with Sophie Lee. 

“I already knew of Sophie through one of my friends, Joss, but we’d never properly spoken – until that night. We clicked straight away.”

Sophie now works as an activist after a fire-breathing accident when she was 22 left her with significant burns. 

The incident took place whilst she was performing in Chicago, when an air-conditioner blew the flames she was expelling back towards her.

And Anton confessed he was “captivated” by Sophie’s story. 

He continued: “We ended up back at her hotel room… but not how you think. 

“We genuinely talked all night. I was captivated by her story.” 

Praising Sophie for talking openly about her experience, he added: “No filters. No ego. 

“Her message? Learn to love yourself – scars and all.” 

Anton isn’t the only former Islander Sophie has a connection to.

She was previously in a relationship with Scottish hunk Ouzy See, 30, who appeared on the show’s tenth series.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun while attending the 2023 Beauty Awards together, Ouzy said at the time: “We’re in the early stages, I’m here supporting Sophie tonight as she’s been nominated.”

Asked if things were going well between them, Ouzy beamed: “It’s going really well,” prompting Sophie to chime in: “He’s really kind, that’s my favourite thing about him.”

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IMAGINE if every text you’ve ever sent or received was being watched by a mystery stranger – or even someone you know. Well, that might be true.

There are loads of ways that sinister spies can have a nose around your private text conversations, so knowing the signs is essential.

The Sun / Google

We reveal the hidden and forgotten settings you need to check.

1 – CHECK YOUR ACCOUNT

If you’re worried about your texts being spied on, your first port of call should be checking settings in your main messaging accounts.

After all, if someone has access to your Apple or Google account, or WhatsApp, then they have unrestricted access to your texts too.

That’s because they can simply log in as you and read everything you’re up to. They can send texts as you, and trawl through your old chats if they want. It’s about as nightmarish as it gets.

Thankfully, most major tech services will let you see who is logged in on your account and kick them out.

And once you do kick the person out, make sure to change your password and add a second layer of verification (like a code sent over text or an authenticator app) in your app settings.

For Apple users, you can see a list of the devices where your Apple Account is logged in.

Just go to Settings > [Your Name] on your Apple device, then scroll down to see the device. If you don’t recognise one, just tap it and then choose Remove From Account.

You can also do this on the account.apple.com website.

For Google (and Android) users, go to your Google account, then choose Security > Your Devices > Manage All Devices.

Once you’re there, you can then easily sign out of any unrecognised devices.

You’ll find other major apps like Facebook and Netflix all have similar settings – so it’s worth checking them all every so often.

2 – MYSTERY NIGHT SPIKE

You also need to watch out for someone close to you reading your texts in the middle of the night.

Maybe you don’t have a phone passcode, or it’s someone you’ve shared your code with, or perhaps a nosy partner or family member who has seen you tap it in.

First, go into Settings > General > iPhone Storage on your iPhone, and scroll down to the apps.

The Sun / Apple

Take a look at the order of your last-used apps – notice anything strange?[/caption]

Change the filter from Size to Last Used Date, which shows apps by when they were most recently used.

If you see a chat app there that you know you didn’t use recently (or in that order), then someone has been having a peek.

Next, go to Settings > Screen Time and turn it on. It’s a handy feature to track how much you’re using your iPhone – but has a hidden spy-busting benefit too.

Head into Settings > Screen Time > See All App & Website Activity, then scroll to Pickups. Now look for First Pickup.

This shows when your iPhone was first picked up and opened on a given day, so you can see if someone unlocked it before you’d woken up.

And third, go to Settings > Screen Time > See All App & Website Activity, then look for Most Used for today.

Now look for an app you’re worried is being accessed – like WhatsApp.

You can see the exact hour slots for when that app was used, as well as the amount of time spent on it.

The Sun / Apple

Go to the Screen Time feature here – it has a hidden spy-busting benefit[/caption]

So if someone opened your WhatsApp at 3am for five minutes, you’ll know about it.

If you have an Android phone, you can use a similar trick.

But instead of Screen Time, you’ll be looking for a Google Feature called Digital Wellbeing.

You can tap on individual apps in Digital Wellbeing, and then check their Hourly usage – showing you when an app has been active.

3 – UNENCRYPTED CHAT APPS

Lots of popular chat apps are totally encrypted.

That’s true of apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Facebook Messenger, and Apple’s iMessage.

That means when you send a text, it gets all jumbled up into an unreadable mess.

And as it flies across the internet, it’ll stay jumbled.

The Sun / WhatsApp / Apple

Look for apps that have “end-to-end encryption” for the best protection[/caption]

Then, when it reaches your recipient, they have a special key to unlock it. No one else has that key.

This key will turn it back into the original text.

The idea is that no one can see the message as it’s sent over the internet. You ideally want your stored messages encrypted too (this is called end-to-end encryption).

For instance, WhatsApp can’t read the texts you send in the app, because they’re jumbled up.

And your internet provider can’t read those messages either, because it’s just seeing garbled data.

This also means if the Government, police, or spies want to snoop on your texts, they can’t. They could get a warrant and demand that WhatsApp hand over your messages, but they wouldn’t be able to read a thing.

The other benefit is that without a backdoor into these texts, hackers can’t read them while they’re in transit either. They’d have to break into your phone instead, which is difficult.

So if you’re using non-encrypted chat apps, it puts you in greater danger.

For a start, texts sent via old-school SMS aren’t encrypted.

Popular chat app Discord doesn’t encrypt text chats – they’re just stored on servers. Most video games won’t encrypt text conversations you have either.

Make sure you’re not having any sensitive conversations unless you’re sure that the app you’re using is end-to-end encrypted.

4 – SECRET CONTACT CODE

This one is a dead giveaway that you’re not texting who you think you are.

It relates to encryption. Remember: encryption scrambles your texts, and only the recipient with the correct key can unscramble them.

Well, hackers have ways of getting around this, so tech giants have come up with a key-verifying system to put your mind at ease.

How does it work? Move to here

Let’s start with iPhone owners, who can use Contact Key Verification in the Messages app.

Turn it on by going into Settings > Name > Contact Key Verification > Verification in iMessage.

The Sun / Apple

This allows you to check who you’re talking to is who they say they are[/caption]

This makes sure that you are speaking to the person with a matching key – and not an impostor intercepting your texts.

Once the setting is on, it’ll automatically verify the Contact Key when you chat with another person. You’ll get an alert if there’s an error, which Apple says helps “make sure that even a very sophisticated attacker can’t impersonate anyone in the conversation”.

You can also manually do this by tapping Conversation Details, and then generating a code at the same time to share and compare.

WhatsApp has a similar feature called Security Code.

Just open a chat with a pal, then tap the contact’s name.

Now tap on Encryption to view a QR code and a 60-digit number.

Next time you’re with your pal, you can scan the other person’s QR code or just visually compare the 60-digit number.

If they match, it’s a guarantee that no one is intercepting your texts (or calls!).

The Sun / WhatsApp

Your WhatsApp has a special key verification feature to help you make sure that your texts aren’t being intercepted[/caption]

5 – MYSTERIOUS SPY APPS

Every so often, take a look at your recently installed apps.

Notice anything strange? Anything that shouldn’t be there? Any apps that you don’t recognise? That’s a major red flag.

Unexpected apps that you don’t recognise are a serious sign that someone is meddling with you.

It might have been installed by someone close to you (maybe they grabbed your phone while you slept) or installed on your device as part of a hack attack (perhaps you clicked a dodgy link or opened a rogue email).

Apple

Make sure to check your phone for any strange apps[/caption]

Apple

Scroll to the far-right on your iPhone to find the App Library – apps may appear here that don’t show up on your Home Screen[/caption]

Either way, once a “spyware” app is on your phone, hackers can run riot with their surveillance.

And don’t be fooled by how the app appears: it might pretend to be a regular app with a normal function, but it is actually spying on you.

So even if it looks like a calculator and works like a calculator, it might still be spying. The only warning sign is that you didn’t install it. That’s never right.

If you ever find any app that you don’t recall installing, delete it right away. It could be tracking every single text you send – and potentially much more.

6 – UNEXPLAINED TEXTS

This sign can come in two forms.

The first is when you receive texts from family members that don’t seem to make sense or flow from your previous conversation.

Maybe they’re having a mad day. But more likely, someone has broken into your text conversations.

What this usually means is that someone is texting your friends and family as you – and then deleting the evidence.

The Sun / Apple

Watch out for texts with strange letters and symbols[/caption]

So when you look at your phone, there’s nothing there.

But you’re catching it out because your friend or family member has replied to a text – and you’ve seen it before the snooper has deleted it.

Check in with that person immediately (and not over text!) to ask them about what conversations you’ve had recently.

Chances are, they’ve received texts from you offering them a lucrative money-making deal, asking for a bit of quick cash, or requesting some security info (like a log-in code for an app).

It’s best to do this over the phone, or better yet in person – so you can make sure your conversation isn’t being meddled with.

The second sign to watch for is when a text contains strange strings of letters, numbers, and symbols.

This might be a symptom of some spyware installed on your phone.

Spyware – software built to watch what you’re doing – isn’t meant to be there, and can result in bugs.

This can sometimes manifest as strange strings of text (including coded instructions meant for a computer) that don’t make sense to your human eyes.

It’s not a guarantee that you’re being spied on, but it’s definitely a sign that something is amiss.

Just like before, look for and delete any mysterious apps on your device that you don’t remember installing, update your phone’s software, and reboot it completely (to wipe any ‘active’ hacks that live in your phone’s short-term memory).

IF the thought of wriggling back into your swimsuit fills you with dread, you’re far from alone.

According to new research from lingerie and swimwear brand Pour Moi, only seven per cent of women feel fully fabulous stepping out in their cossies. Just seven.

David Cummings

I recruited size 14, mum-of-one Michelle Court to test out this miracle swimsuit (pictured in her normal swimsuit)[/caption]

David Cummings

Available for £27.99 on Amazon in six different colours, the cossie completely showcased Michelle’s figure[/caption]

The rest of us? We’re artfully draped in sarongs, in tent shaped cover-ups or doing that frantic towel dance by the pool in a bid to stay incognito.

Because let’s be honest, hauling last summer’s swimwear from the bottom drawer rarely feels good.

That magical tummy control? Stretched beyond salvation. The ‘statement colour’? More like a fading memory, now tinged with SPF smears and fake tan mishaps.

Then comes the dreaded try-on. You catch a glimpse in the mirror and bam – any flicker of body confidence evaporates faster than your iced rosé in a midday heatwave.

But here’s the thing, it’s not just you.

We’ve all had the mirror moment. We’ve all sworn under our breath in badly lit changing rooms. And we’ve all wished, more than once, that swimwear came with built-in courage.

But those dreams could become a reality.

Whilst on the search for swimwear this year, I turned my attention to TikTok which, like it or not, is a good barometer for consumer style reviews.

The first one I stumbled-scrolled upon was a brand called Cupshe.

A top selling American swimwear brand that does ship to the UK and is available on Amazon. So far, so good.

Cupshe is a brand that on the surface sounds like every other swimwear brand with words like ‘empower’, ‘inspire’ and ‘support’.

But the brand’s Slim & Sculpt swimsuit caught my eye.

A viral clip racking up millions of views featuring three women, all different in shapes and sizes, slip into the same figure-loving cossie.

The secret? A corset-style lace-up back that cinches in all the right places, giving each of them an envy-inducing hourglass shape.

In the comments section one fan of the swimwear gushed: “These make you feel SO confident – and that speaks volumes!”

Another said: “Just got mine and I can’t believe how good it looks.”

I’m immediately sold – but I need to see it in the flesh.

Available for £27.99 on Amazon in six different colours, I recruited size 14, make-up artist and mum-of-one Michelle Court, 41, from Rochford, Essex, to test out this miracle swimsuit.

“Every time it comes to going on holiday I get a new cossie,” says Michelle.

“I used to be a bikini Queen and never think of pulling on a one-piece, but after a baby my confidence to show off my body has dwindled.

“These days I love a swimsuit for holding everything in.

“When I’m looking for my new holiday swimsuit I always try to hunt for one with a really good shape that flatters my figure, doesn’t dig in too much and one that keeps everything in its place.”

Medium is the corresponding Cupshe size for Michelle’s UK dress size but out of the packet, the cossie looks rather small. We both agree it might be a struggle to get it on.

But two minutes later Michelle is out of the dressing room in the red lycra number and looks like she’s ready to run in slow motion down the beach. So far, so Baywatch.

David Cummings

The secret? A corset-style lace-up back that cinches in all the right places[/caption]

David Cummings

Michelle felt like the Special K lady[/caption]

tiktok@blossom.bonds

Cupshe is a top-selling American swimwear brand – and is popular on TikTok[/caption]

“I look like the Special K Lady,” says Michelle. “It’s like I’ve been on weight loss injections!”

She was right, this swimsuit completely showcased her figure – and not a fat jab in sight.

I was dubious as to whether swimwear can really be that transformative but from seeing Michelle in a thousand-wash beige costume that had zero bust support or elasticity, the change was undeniable.

She said: “It really does hold you in, like, cinches in everywhere – not like that old one from the loft.”

“Its got amazing bust support, it feels like someone has just come in behind me and lifted me – and lifted everything.
“I feel way more confident than I do in my usual costumes.”

Made from 92 per cent polyester and 8 per cent Spandex the swimming costume does the nipping and tucking with its fabric, but the real magic comes from the corsetry at the back.

You can tie it as loosely or as tight as you like to take inches off your waist and it really, really works.

And at the back the suit also gives great bum coverage, unlike many high street swimsuits that are barely bigger than a thong at the back.

Michelle said: “Honestly, I love it. It’s a 10/10 swimsuit… Can I take it home?”

THERE’s rarely a dull Saturday in the racing world, though you’ll definitely need to dust off your top hat for this weekend’s action.

The cream of the thoroughbred crop is off to Epsom for the Betfred Derby, the second Classic of the season for the three-year-old colts.

This year’s race feels open, with the favourite being Delacroix for the insatiable Aidan O’Brien at the time of writing, a trainer who has won this a record 10 times. Delacroix has strong form and a pedigree that suggests he’ll stay this trip, but plenty deserve a look. 

Leading the opposition are key trial winners Ruling Court and Pride Of Arras, while the unbeaten French horse Midak has been supplemented for this in the colours of the late Aga Khan IV – with the race being run in his honour.

We’ve taken an in-depth look at the fields to bring you our very best Epsom Derby betting predictions below, with tips in each and every race at Epsom Downs on Saturday. 

2025 Derby Day: picks and tips

The card for Epsom Derby Day is a fabulous one, with no less than three Group contests across the eight-race card, as well as some seriously competitive handicap heats. 

With each race looking fairly tricky to solve, we’ve picked out a bet in each and every race for you below, including in the Derby itself. Odds are provided by our recommended horse racing sites.

• Bermuda Longtail – 5/1 to win the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at BetMGM
• Persica – 2/1 to win the Diomed Stakes at bet365
• Ruby’s Profit – 59/20 to win the 3YO Dash Handicap at SBK
• Spartan Arrow – each-way at 25/2 to win the Aston Martin Dash at SBK
• Delacroix – 3/1 to win the Epsom Derby at Tote
• Maxi King – each-way at 16/1 to win the Northern Dancer Handicap at bet365
• Hornsea Bay – 5/1 to win the Lester Piggott Handicap at BetVictor
• Badri – 7/1 to win the JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap at BetMGM

2025 Derby Day schedule 

There’s plenty to get stuck into on Derby Day, with the big race due off at 3.30pm. You can find the full schedule for Saturday’s meeting at Epsom Downs below. 

Start time	Race	Distance
1:00 pm	5:40 pm	1M 113Y
1:35 pm	The Betfred Diomed Stakes (Group 3)	1M 113Y
2:10 pm	The Betfred 3YO ‘Dash’ Handicap Stakes	5F
2:45 pm	The Aston Martin ‘Dash’ Handicap Stakes (Heritage Handicap)	5F
3:30 pm	The Betfred Derby (In honour of His Highness Aga Khan IV) (Group 1)	1M 4F
4:15 pm	The Encore Lifestyle Northern Dancer Handicap Stakes	1M 4F
5:00 pm	The Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Lester Piggott Handicap Stakes	1M 2F
5:40pm	The JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap Stakes	6F

Our best pick for the 2025 Betfred Epsom Derby (Group 1) 

A stellar renewal of the UK’s most prestigious Flat race. Several trial winners feature, including 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court. That form has been boosted since by the runner-up Field Of Gold winning the Irish equivalent, though he must prove he stays the trip.

Pride Of Arras’ victory in top trial the Dante Stakes stands out and while he has modest connections by the Derby’s standards, he looked very classy indeed when striking at York. Behind him was The Lion In Winter, a top juvenile from last year who could build on his reappearance in sixth. Unbeaten French challenger Midak is fascinating, but Delacroix looks the best option.

A high-class juvenile, he returned by winning the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown in March, a race which has produced four Derby winners this century. This year’s form has been boosted too, with the second (Lambourn) and the fourth (Puppet Master) going on to win trials in their own right. The choice of Ryan Moore, he appeals as a horse who will handle any ground and improve for the step up in trip. He looks the best option for his all-conquering trainer.

Back Delacroix at 3/1 with Tote to win the Epsom Derby

1:00 – Group 3 The Princess Elizabeth Stakes tip

This is a tricky puzzle to solve. The ground could be sticky by post time and Skellet is versatile in that regard, winning a Listed contest in the autumn. She is interesting, while Bright Thunder would be one to note if the heavens opened. 

Both Chic Colombine (second) and Royal Dress (third) had nightmare runs in this last year and are back for more, but Bermuda Longtail catches the eye. Admittedly, three-year-olds don’t have a great record in this, but she’s got better with each of her four runs and is fancied to improve past several of these, with her price of 5/1 with BetMGM looking fair. 

Back Bermuda Longtail in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at 5/1 with BetMGM

1:35 – Group 3 The Betfred Diomed Stakes prediction 

This race is named after the inaugural Derby winner and several deserve a look. Docklands jointly leads the betting at the time of writing some classy form under his belt, though the undulations of Epsom may not play to his strengths considering he’s at his best on straight miles. 

German challenger Geography is interesting for a yard who have had success on these shores before, but it’s hard to ignore joint favourite Persica at 2/1 with bet365. He found Group 1 company at Newbury too hot last time, but had been progressing well prior to that and will handle the track having won a handicap on this day last year. 

Back Persica in the Diomed Stakes at 2/1 with bet365

2:10 – The Betfred 3YO ‘Dash’ Handicap Stakes pick

A fast and furious affair, in which the thriving Ruby’s Profit ought to take all the beating. The daughter of Profitable has bags of speed and couldn’t be in better form, still looking ahead of her mark when picking up a second win of the campaign at Goodwood last time. A 3.95 favourite with SBK, she only has one way of running and a 6lbs rise may not be enough to stop her from going in again. The reopposing Mademoiselle finished well behind the favourite last time and she rates as a big threat if she is able to learn from that experience. 

Back Ruby’s Profit in the 3YO Dash at 59/20 with SBK

2:45 – The Aston Martin ‘Dash’ Handicap Stakes pick

A fiendishly difficult puzzle to solve, particularly when you note that five of the last 10 winners have returned at odds of 16/1 or higher. A mixture of a good draw and tactical speed can often prove to be a good combination, drawing the eye to Spartan Arrow. He’s got low mileage for a sprinter but has been kept busy this year, winning twice from five starts. The latest of those wins was a career best effort to win from the front in April. He faded at York last time, but he’s a strong traveller and it would be no surprise to see him give this a good go from a high draw. It looks worth backing him each-way at 13.5 with SBK. 

Back Spartan Arrow each-way in the Dash at 25/2 with SBK

4:15 – The Encore Lifestyle Northern Dancer Handicap Stakes predictions

Yet another tough equation and a chance is taken on Maxi King each-way. He was thriving when completing a hat-trick in the mud this time last year and while he’s been in and out since, he signed off with a solid run at Doncaster in November. He’s capable of running well fresh and returns having had a gelding operation over the winter. It would be no surprise to see him go well here should the rain continue to fall and he looks worth backing each-way at around 16/1 with bet365. Both Valvano and Small Fry have plenty going for them in opposition and can’t be ruled out, either. 

Back Maxi King each-way in the Northern Dancer Handicap at 16/1 with bet365

5:00 – The Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Lester Piggott Handicap Stakes tip

A race in which excess rain would cause havoc, with plenty of these showing their best form on faster ground. Chartwell Jack represents a yard that has won this three times in the last 10 years and is respected after a solid run at Ascot last time, while Grecian Legacy showed plenty of improvement for a gelding operation when winning on reappearance at Goodwood. 

War Hawk is another last time out winner that can’t be ignored, but Hornsea Bay could be the way to go. He’s shown some fairly useful form so far and while he struggled last time, he has been gelded since and should suit the step up in trip. Trading at 5/1 with BetVictor, he gets the vote for his ultra-shrewd connections. 

Back Hornsea Bay in the Lester Piggott Handicap at 5/1 with BetVictor

5:40 – The JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap Stakes prediction

Yet another sprint race on the card that looks wide open. Circe arrives here in the form of her life, after back-to-back successes over six furlongs this term. She had to dig deep last time and faces a career high mark but is respected, while Eye Of Dubai and Rousing Encore would come into play on soft ground. 

A chance is taken however on the 2023 winner Badri. A ten-time winner, he was 8lbs higher when taking this two years ago and is slipping down to a tempting mark. Drawn in stall one, he can strike under Hollie Doyle, with his price of 7/1 with BetMGM looking more than fair. 

Back Badri in the Tokyo Trophy Handicap at 7/1 with BetMGM

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