As has been the case since 1995, the first Saturday in June marks a key date on the racing calendar. With the latest flat campaign now well underway, all eyes turn to Epsom for the race many believe is still the biggest and best of them all. We are, of course, referring to the mighty Epsom Derby, which sees a field of regally bred runners locking horns over the most iconic 1m4f course on the planet.
The lion’s share of the £1.5 million purse and a place in the annals of racing history await the winner, but who will it be? With the final field of 19 runners and riders confirmed, the big guns of Aidan O’Brien, Charlie Appleby, and John & Thady Gosden are all present and correct, in addition to a host of intriguing colts from elsewhere.
Epsom Derby: Confirmed Field of Runners and Riders
| Number | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al Wasl Storm | David Probert | Owen Burrows |
| 2 | Damysus | James Doyle | John & Thady Gosden |
| 3 | Delacroix | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien |
| 4 | Green Storm | Billy Loughnane | Charlie Johnston |
| 5 | Lambourn | Wayne Lordan | Aidan O’Brien |
| 6 | Lazy Giff | Christophe Soumillon | Charlie Johnston |
| 7 | Midak | Mickael Barzalona | Francis-Henri Graffard |
| 8 | New Ground | Alexis Pouchin | Henry-Francois Devin |
| 9 | Nightime Dancer | Jamie Spencer | Richard Hannon |
| 10 | Nightwalker | Tom Marquand | John & Thady Gosden |
| 11 | Pride Of Arras | Rossa Ryan | Ralph Beckett |
| 12 | Rogue Impact | Luke Morris | James Owen |
| 13 | Ruling Court | William Buick | Charlie Appleby |
| 14 | Sea Scout | Harry Davies | Simon & Ed Crisford |
| 15 | Stanhope Gardens | Hector Crouch | Ralph Beckett |
| 16 | Tennessee Stud | Dylan Browne McMonagle | Joseph Patrick O’Brien |
| 17 | The Lion In Winter | Colin Keane | Aidan O’Brien |
| 18 | Tornado Alert | Oisin Murphy | Saeed bin Suroor |
| 19 | Tuscan Hills | David Egan | Raphael E Freire |
Highlights
Already the most successful trainer in the history of the Derby, Aidan O’Brien sends three into battle in pursuit of an 11th victory. With Delacroix, The Lion In Winter, and Lambourn all boasting solid credentials, punters awaited the riding decision of Ryan Moore with bated breath. In the end, Moore opted for the colt most expected he would. Losing out by just a nose in the 2024 Futurity Trophy, Delacroix arrives with two wins from as many starts at three, including a notable success in the Leopardstown Derby Trial.
For much of the winter, The Lion In Winter topped the Derby market on the back of a flawless juvenile campaign. However, a disappointing comeback in the Dante Stakes saw the Sea The Stars colt take a walk in the market. Having inspired Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy to Derby victory following subpar outings, can O’Brien work the oracle once more? Last but not least of the O’Brien trio, Lambourn is sired by 2014 champ Australia and stayed on well to claim the Chester Vase last time out.
The Joseph O’Brien runner, Tennessee Stud, completes the Irish challenge. This attractive son of Wootton Bassett claimed Group 1 glory in the Critérium de Saint-Cloud as a juvenile but finished well adrift of Delacroix at Leopardstown.
Charlie Appleby’s 2,000 Guineas champ Ruling Court looks set to start as the shortest price of the home team. With Newmarket runner-up Field Of Gold since storming to victory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the form of the opening colts Classic has already received a boost. By Justify, who sired the winner in 2024, the mount of William Buick has every chance if he handles this step up in trip.
We are set for a bumper field of 19 in 2025, but only two colts arrive with an unbeaten record. The first of those is the Ralph Beckett-trained Pride Of Arras, who shot towards the head of the Derby market following his impressive win in the Dante Stakes on his seasonal return. Beckett has yet to claim the Derby but may have his best chance yet in 2025. If not Pride Of Arras, perhaps Stanhope Gardens will get the job done, having lost out by just a neck to Delacroix in the Autumn Stakes last season.
Last successful with Golden Horn in 2015, John Gosden aims to win the Derby for the first time in partnership with his son Thady. The ex-Sir Michael Stoute runner Nightwalker took a big step forward when fifth in the Dante last time and arrives with an appealingly progressive profile, whilst Wathnan Racing’s Damysus finished to excellent effect to take second in that event.
The second of the unbeaten runners is the first of two French raiders in the field. Hailing from the yard of Henri-Francis Graffard, Midak only made his debut in March but has shot to prominence with three rapid-fire wins. The most recent of those victories came in the Group 3 Prix Greffulhe – a race landed by Pour Moi before his success for France in 2011. New Ground adds a second string to the Gallic bow but has work to do on this season’s form.
Seven of the eight remaining runners are priced at 80/1 or bigger and look to have a mountain to climb on form. However, there may be more to come from the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Tornado Alert, who finished a solid fourth in the 2,000 Guineas on only his third career start and has the assistance of champion jockey Oisin Murphy in the saddle.
