The BBC's coverage of the Vodafone Derby on Saturday attracted three million viewers to Grandstand.

It was the first time in 22 years that the BBC have covered the premier Flat racing Classic and they hope to build on that initial figure for next year.

"It is a significant increase on last year's figure of 2.5m when it was on Channel 4, so it's a 20 per cent increase on the first year it was back on the BBC," said BBC spokeswoman Alison Green.

"For a sporting event to find a place in the nation's consciousness takes time and this is the first step on a long journey.

"We are very pleased with the figure and we're looking forward to next year's race already, building on the successes of this year.

"Both ourselves and the Epsom authorities are keen to restore the Derby to its glory days."

But Channel 4's betting guru, John McCririck who once worked on BBC Grandstand, claiming that the corporation and Epsom authorities had hoped for a higher figure.

He said: "The whole basis of moving the Derby was that the BBC and Vodafone said that they would double the audience.

"Secretly they were hoping for 7-8m. It is an astonishing figure, a huge disappointment for all of us in racing and a hammer blow to the BBC."