There’s neigh-ver a dull moment at this must-watch horse racing festival

The Investec Derby Festival, from Friday 1 June, 1.30pm, ITV/HD (CH 103/113)

Put your glad rags on and start getting used to words like gelding and gallop, because the greatest flat horse race in the world – the Investec Derby – is about to come under starter’s orders.

Here’s what you need to know: the big race, first held in 1780, is the jewel in the crown of the two-day Investec Derby Festival. It’s run on Surrey’s Epsom Downs racecourse over a distance of one mile, four furlongs and six yards. It will be contested by the world’s finest three-year-old thoroughbreds, including hot favourite Saxon Warrior. Oh, and you can watch it live on ITV on Virgin TV.

“We are very happy with Saxon,” reveals the colt’s trainer Aidan O’Brien. “Everything has been good so far and there is an awful lot of improvement to come. It’ll be exciting to see.”

O’Brien may be excited, but he won’t be taking anything for granted. After all, this is the man who trained last year’s Investec Derby winner Wings Of Eagles, which began the race as a 40-1 outsider. This is a course that’s been known to throw up some shock results, which all adds to the unmissable drama.

And keep an eye out for the legendary Frankie Dettori, the two-time Derby winner who is set to ride the much-fancied Lah Ti Dar in Friday’s big race, the Investec Oaks. Can the 47-year-old jockey roll back the years and add to his four Oaks victories?

It’s going to be two days of epic equine action on the box – make sure you follow every heart-pounding moment live on ITV on Virgin TV.

The Investec Derby Festival, from Friday 1 June, 1.30pm, ITV/HD (CH 103/113)