Top 3 Horses Experts are Backing at the Kentucky Derby 2017

Gambling.com Editor

May 4th, 2017

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This Saturday, 6th of May, floppy hats, eccentric suits and massive wagers galore will be on display as Churchill Downs welcomes the world (but mostly punters) for the 143rd annual Kentucky Derby. The US' premier horse racing event each year, the Kentucky Derby is always rip for shrewd punting as long as the most proven strategies are utilised and expert opinion is considered.

The keys to success when betting on horse racing are refining the ability to read the horses' current form and picking a horse to back. All great bookmaking experts who specialise in horse racing know the importance of these two critical factors and certainly consider both when giving advice about big races like the one this Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The world's top horse racing oddsmakers have all laid odds down on the Derby this weekend but just because the bookies have released a list of favoruites, doesn't mean those are the horses the experts are backing. No, typically it is just the opposite; expert punters typically look for non-favoruites with quality upside to ensure their wagers will bring a worth-while return.

Keeping all this in mind, Gambling.com browsed the advice of industry experts discussing the Derby and which horse they think is worth backing to create this list of the top 5 horses expert suggest backing while betting of the Kentucky Derby 2017:

3 Horses Worth Backing at Churchill Downs

1. Always Dreaming (John Velazquez) | 11/2 at bet365

   Having won the last three competitions the horse entered, including a career best performance just last race, Always Dreaming is primed for a strong showing at this year's Kentucky Derby despite a lack of experience in the race.

   The one hesitation with this young horse is he only recently made the jump up in graded stakes so inexperience can be hindering. Fortunately, as the bookies show with their odds, if you're looking to back a favourite, Always Dreaming is trending in the right direction.

   Ladbrokes Sports - the flagship bookmaker of the Ladbrokes Coral Group, the world's largest gambling brand - lists Always Dreaming and jockey, John Velazquez, as favourites to win the 143rd Kentucky Derby yet competitor bet365 Sports sees Classic Empire as favourite.

   Because of this discrepancy and the better odds bet365 is offering on the budding horse, experts believe backing Always Dreaming at 11/2 odds with bet365 is an extremely smart wager. Anyone who signs up and makes a deposit with bet365 today can enjoy a 100% Welcome Bonus too!

2. Hence (Florent Geroux) | 20/1 at bet365

   Talk among the veteran trainers seems to suggest Hence, a young horse just hitting its stride, is built to succeed in the Derby based on his strengths as a runner. Hence started his career a bit slow with his first four professional races finishing in a manner most wouldn't expect.

   But not long after the horse's slow start, an epic come-back win down eleven lengths at Sunland Park Derby got everyone buzzing. Now, considered a real contender to compete at Churchill Downs this weekend, Hence and jockey, Florent Geroux, are being considered by many experts a quality horse to back.

   Browsing the odds listed all around the web, it seems Ladbrokes has bought the hype surrounding Hence, posting odds that put him just inside the top 5 favourites so once again we turn to bet365 and their lack of faith in the horse and jockey.

   If experts are to be believed (which we suggest), backing Hence to take the crown at 20/1 odds with bet365 is a bet punters might regret not placing. And don't let those long odds scare you away as we have already pointed out Ladbrokes thinks Hence is a mild favorite at 12/1!

3. Lookin at Lee (Corey Lanerie) | 33/1 at Ladbrokes

   Corey Lanerie, the jockey riding Lookin at Lee, is considered by most among the industry to be a Churchill Downs "specialist," an obvious advantage for those considering backing the American jockey and horse. Unfortunately for the jockey, though, he and Lookin at Lee landed the dreaded rail post but that's not all bad for punters.

   For those shrewd punters still looking to back the horse bred right there in the state of Kentucky, the "dreaded" rail post means the odds got longer around most top online bookmaker sites. Longer odds on a horse punters are still extremely confident in means more winnings if Lookin at Lee and Lanerie can bring home the crown.

   Ladbrokes' odds for Always Dreaming and Hence would suggest a bit a confidence in those two horses and their jockeys but Lookin at Lee gets very little love at the world's most popular bookmaker website. bet365 offers the American-bred horse at 25/1 but that's still not as long as Ladbrokes', which seem to suggest they have little faith in the horse.

   Fortunately for the punters, that's exactly what you want when considering a wager on a longer shot horse, they want long odds. Ladbrokes is offering Lookin at Lee at 33/1 odds despite finishing in the money in 6 of his 9 total professional races. With such long odds on a quality contender like these two, punters should really be considering a wager on the Americans!

Betting Horses 'On the Go'

For those punters who indulge year round in horse racing betting, we've compiled a list of the top 5 UK betting apps for horse racing punters. Hopefully this list can help players find the best app for them to continue their punting on the go from anywhere they can get internet access! To see the entire betting makret for the 143rd Kentucky Derby set to kick off this weekend, simply head over to Ladbrokes Sports now!