19 entries have been declareds in the 2025 edition of the Epsom Derby on Saturday, 7th June. Run up and down the cambers of Epsom Downs, the 1m4f showpiece continues to be the most prized contest of the flat season.
2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court is the headline act. He is Charlie Appleby’s only entrant, a fact alone which speaks to his chances, while his Newmarket form was given a huge boost when runner-up Field Of Gold bolted up in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh. His stamina will be unproven, but he brings the highest level of form, and is joined in the race by fellow Godolphin runner Tornado Alert for Saeed bin Suroor. He himself was fourth in the Newmarket Guineas.
Aidan O’Brien has won the last two runnings of the Derby, both with horses who flopped on their first starts of the season. That could be a positive for The Lion In Winter, who was too keen when only finishing sixth in the Dante Stakes at York, but boasted sensational two-year-old form, including when beating Ruling Court in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes. He was the long-time ante-post favourite for this race, but has been replaced as the market leader by stablemate Delacroix. O’Brien recently said “it would be hard for Ryan Moore not to ride” Delacroix after his two trial wins this season at Leopardstown, with the son of Dubawi holding rock solid claims on that evidence. Lambourn won a separate Derby trial for Aidan O’Brien and makes up the Ballyodlye contingent.
The winner of the aforementioned Dante was Pride Of Arras. Unbeaten in two starts for Ralph Beckett, he was a commanding victor of that contest and may head the British challenge beyond Ruling Court. Runner-up Damysus also holds a place in the Derby for the Gosden yard, as does the Juddmonte-owned Nightwalker, with Pride Of Arras’ stablemate Stanhope Gardens back on track for the race after making a belated return for the season recently.
The Johnston yard run a pair of hopefuls in Lazy Griff, second in the Chester Vase, and outsider Green Storm. Meanwhile, France are also doubly represented, with supplementary entries Midak and New Ground lining up.
Aidan’s son Joseph is yet to win this race as a trainer, but will be hoping Group 1 winner Tennessee Stud will be involved in the finish. Indeed, he is the only other representative for Ireland.
Of the remaining quintet of British runners, Sea Scout landed the Listed Blue Riband Trial at Epsom, so has track experience. Meanwhile Tuscan Hills was seventh in the Dante and is one of those towards the foot of the betting, with both Nightime Dancer and Rogue Impact having been beaten in the Lingfield Derby Trial, while Al Wasl Storm has just a maiden victory to his name to date for Owen Burrows.
2025 Epsom Derby Runners
15:30 Epsom
GoodBetfred Derby (In Honour Of His Highness Aga Khan IV) (Group 1) (No Geldings)
- 1m 4f 6y
- Class 1
- 18 runners
- Win time: 2m 38s
13/2 (Won)
- Win: £10.35
- Place: £2.70
50/1
- Place: £8.65
28/1
- Place: £8.75
50/1
12/1
40/1
50/1
100/1
2/1F
9/1
125/1
40/1
200/1
7/1
50/1
40/1
4/1
16/1
Non-runners
Ruling Court
+o+e Betting Returns
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £338.80 |
| Straight Forecast | £316.34 |
| Tricast | £8294.72 |
| Trifecta | £3431.20 |