The 2025 edition of the Epsom Derby looks a cracker, with a big field of 19 going to post across the downs. GG tipster Joe Napier has taken an irreverent look at every runner in the race for his pinstickers’ guide, giving his verdict below.
1. Al Wasl Storm (Owen Burrows/David Probert)
Might need a storm in order for the race to be postponed so connections can continue believing in his chances. His sire traditionally produces National Hunt stock, so he’s among the more thorough stayers, and his Chester maiden win is solid form. However, given the sheer gulf in quality between that race and the Derby, Al Wasl’s best chance of success might be the fact they have former Watford striker Isaac Success playing for them in the UAE Pro League.
2/10
2. Damysus (John & Thady Gosden/James Doyle)
Named after a giant in Greek mythology, who was supposedly the fastest of the big men. Has only been the fastest in one of his three races so far, but arrives here after making the frame in two Classic trials, including a runner-up effort last time out in the Dante at York. Ran on well from the back that day and should have a greater chance of staying than a few. Represents a Goliath yard, but then David beat him didn’t he? Maybe, Thady and Goliath? Ever-growing owners Wathnan Racing will hope so.
7/10
3. Delacroix (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore)
Aidan O’Brien has already won this with two continental artists. Baroque genius Anthony Van Dyck did it first, in 2019, while French sculptor Auguste Rodin may be cheering on his compatriot from Coolmore Stud. Will Delacroix suffer for the lack of his first name? He arrives in top form, winning two Leopardstown trials over 1m2f in commanding fashion and Ryan Moore has selected him over The Lion In Winter. Delacroix’s masterpiece is Liberty Leading The People; he could well be leading the people against the bookmakers.
8/10
4. Green Storm (Charlie Johnston/Billy Loughnane)
Another Storm is coming to Epsom on Saturday, arguably one too many. Plenty of racegoers will experience a Green Storm in a teacup if Charlie Johnston’s runner wins, as he is set to go off a massive price. That is for good reason, as he has only won one of his seven starts, and while there are two Group race runner-up efforts in there, they have not been in the best races. Pulled Tom Marquand’s arms off at Newmarket, and if he does that to Billy Loughnane here, he could be beaten a furlong.
1/10
5. Lambourn (Aidan O’Brien/Wayne Lordan)
Lambourn haven’t won a Derby for 19 years, so along have arrived Aidan O’Brien and Mrs John Magnier to help them out. A son of 2014 Derby hero Australia, this dour-striding individual enjoyed every yard of the 1m4½f Chester Vase, so will doubtless be rumbling on down the hill at Epsom on Saturday. Nominally, he is the third choice of O’Brien’s trio, having been 2¼ lengths behind Delacroix at Leopardstown, but he is an able support act should his neighbours act up. Do not rule out lightly.
6/10
6. Lazy Griff (Charlie Johnston/Christophe Soumillon)
Between 1997-2006, we had three Derby winners that sounded like sarcastic nicknames of your school prefects. Benny The Dip, Kris Kin and Sir Percy will no doubt be watching, hooves pounding, for Lazy Griff to join them. Fortunately, he has not lived up to his name, winning twice and finishing second in the Chester Vase behind Lambourn. He’s by a Melbourne Cup winner, which is weird, but that’s as great a guarantee of stamina as anything, and if Christophe Soumillon can bounce him out of stall 3, he may prove the best of the massive outsiders.
6/10
7. Midak (Francis-Henri Graffard/Mickael Barzalona)
Frenchman Francis-Henri Graffard has had the Midas Touch with his raiders to England of late, and he will be hoping Mickael Barzalona can provide the Midak touch on Saturday. Barzalona was that mental teenager who celebrated before Pour Moi had crossed the line in 2011, duly getting his wrists slapped by the suits to the extent he’s only ridden in one Derby since. He could just make it two wins in three rides, because Midak won the same race as Pour Moi to prepare, and did it in style. But how can Barzalona one-up his triumphant moment? Moon the crowd, perhaps?
9/10
8. New Ground (Henri-Francois Devin/Alexis Pouchin)
Nouveau terrain indeed for Henri-Francois Devin, who will send out only his second runner in seven years in Britain here. Chased home the French Derby runner-up on his return at Longchamp, but then chased home the French Derby 13th at Chantilly. Has tended to wrestle with Alexis Pouchin in his races so far, but there is enough stamina in his pedigree to suggest he will get home. Juddmonte paid £75,000 for the privilege of him being here, but if he still refuses to settle, that Epsom straight might feel like the Champs-Élysées.
5/10
9. Nightime Dancer (Richard Hannon/Jamie Spencer)
Grammar pedants will immediately notice he’s missing a “t”, perhaps stolen by Grand National winner Nick Rockett. Nightime Dancer could probably do with it back if it did indeed stand for “turbo” because Richard Hannon’s charge looks slightly short of this level. Travelled well through the Lingfield Derby Trial without quite matching the O’Brien-trained front pair late on, so will need this to be run at a furious gallop to bring out his stamina. Even then, he will surely fall short, for all his yard are in cracking form.
3/10
10. Nightwalker (John & Thady Gosden/Tom Marquand)
Might have something to prove, as his owners had the temerity of supplementing fellow Juddmonte-bearer New Ground at the 11th hour. Maybe that suggests a lack of faith, but it won’t be on the Gosdens part, who took over his training from the retiring Sir Michael Stoute. Below his best twice at Newmarket, but was doing some eye-catching work late in the Dante Stakes at York when unfavourably positioned. This could suit much better and his tendency to miss the break may matter less at Epsom, albeit this would be a big field for him to navigate around.
8/10
11. Pride Of Arras (Ralph Beckett/Rossa Ryan)
Mr and Mrs Aykroyd, the owners of Pride Of Arras, also own a horse called Old Cock. Just thought I’d mention. Fortunately, that’s not a non sequitur for a no-hoper, as Pride Of Arras has won two from two, including the Dante at York. Always a valuable trial, Desert Crown claimed the race three years ago before Epsom glory, and Ralph Beckett’s charge took command of the Knavesmire in impressive fashion. Limitations are yet to be exposed after only two runs, so may well have more in the tank, although he does not possess an obvious Derby winner profile.
7/10
12. Rogue Impact (James Owen/Luke Morris)
We will be talking about a Rogue Impact if this horse wins the Derby out of nowhere. Nearly last on debut, last in the Lingfield Derby Trial, but did beat Al Wasl Storm to victory in a Lingfield maiden in between. The only thing going for him is that the 1m4f trip will pose no threat to his stamina, but pulled hard latest and is likelier to make his impact at a lower level.
1/10
13. Ruling Court (Charlie Appleby/William Buick)
2,300,000 euros is a lot of money. It bought Godolphin a Classic winner though, with Ruling Court gamely winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Was maybe fortunate that runner-up Field Of Gold was still jig-jogging as the race began in earnest, but the expensive breeze-up purchase has every chance of being crowned a dual Classic winner. Last horse to do the Guineas-Derby double was Camelot in 2012, but few have looked as promising on paper as Charlie Appleby’s charge. Looks capable of staying on breeding and as talented as any.
10/10
14. Sea Scout (Simon & Ed Crisford/Harry Davies)
Epsom is a very unusual track, so those of a persuasion for a horse proven on the Downs could do worse than look at Sea Scout, who won the Listed Blue Riband Trial here in April. Unfortunately, that is likely to be the only race he wins at Epsom this season, as he rather stole that race from his prominent position at 40/1. Well held in the Dante more recently, but could give his running if breaking well from stall 18.
4/10
15. Stanhope Gardens (Ralph Beckett/Hector Crouch)
Named after a recent Taylor Wimpey development in Aldershot (apparently the gardens are also a location in Kensington), this is the horse Ralph Beckett said would be his primary Derby hope earlier in the season. That says something given stablemate Pride Of Arras subsequently won the Dante. Stanhope Gardens has been gradually brought back to peak for this and only has a head to find with Delacroix on Newmarket running last season. A very intriguing runner off an unusual build-up, but could stay.
7/10
16. Tennessee Stud (Joseph O’Brien/Dylan Browne McMonagle)
One for the baby Joseph O’Brien to join his father’s trio. Tennessee Stud is a Group 1 winner, something the likes of Delacroix and The Lion In Winter cannot say, although he did it in a three-runner field in France in which all of the home trainers decided not to bother. Form gives decidedly mixed signals otherwise, as does his pedigree regarding the 1m4f trip. That leaves him as a limbo bet, because he could well improve for his reappearance behind Delacroix, but on face value, he requires a fair bit more.
5/10
17. The Lion In Winter (Aidan O’Brien/Colin Keane)
Almost exactly fitting the profile of the last two Derby winners, The Lion In Winter, like Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy before him, was the long-term favourite for Epsom only to disappoint on his reappearance and cast doubt about his ability. The similarities end there though. His return came in the Dante rather than the 2000 Guineas and Ryan Moore has deserted him, whereas he stuck by the aforementioned pair. Drawn closer to Essex than Epsom too, so will need to channel recent memories, but could be capable of doing so.
6/10
18. Tornado Alert (Saeed bin Suroor/Oisin Murphy)
Sounds like he should be a sprinter, but some of his siblings let the side down on that one, going over jumps. Saeed bin Suroor won the Derby 30 years ago with Lammtarra in his first full season as a trainer and Tornado Alert at least has two more races of experience to call on than that 90s great, and his fourth in the 2000 Guineas was a solid effort. Frame possibilities again here, but Robson and Jerome were number one for bin Suroor’s first success. A long, lonely time ago.
6/10
19. Tuscan Hills (Raphael Freire/David Egan)
It probably won’t surprise you that Raphael Freire would be the first Brazilian man to send out the winner of a Derby were Tuscan Hills to be successful. Joga bonito there is not in racing, but then the Derby is more route one than tiki taka anyway, as Amo Racing head honcho Kia Joorabchian would likely attest. Or maybe not. Either way, Amo have had 50/1 and 66/1 Derby runner-ups recently and their son of Night Of Thunder would not have to improve unduly to feature, albeit there is a stamina query after his Dante seventh.
6/10
Verdict
2000 Guineas hero RULING COURT can make it two-thirds of the way to the Triple Crown with Derby victory. His pedigree, and performances to date, give significant hope he will last home over 1m4f and he was able to beat a serious miling prospect in the 2000 Guineas by fully seeing out the distance. Unbeaten French raider Midak is feared most after being supplemented, as he promises to be well-suited by this test, though in a big field, dangers abound, with Nightwalker the most eyecatching horse re-emerging from the Dante. Delacroix looks the pick of the O’Brien trio, especially with Ryan Moore onboard, with he, Stanhope Gardens, Pride Of Arras and Damysus serving to make this a hugely exciting renewal. Lazy Griff is the pick of the big outsiders.
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