The Epsom Derby will be run for the 247th time this Saturday. Its first renewal took place nine years before the Constitution of the United States. Now they’re hosting the World Cup.
All that is to say that more eyes should be trained on Epsom on Saturday than the MetLife Stadium next month. I hope yours will be. And if you’re of the inclination to have a bet, GG’s Joe Napier has the insight on all 14 runners for this year’s Derby in our 2026 pinstickers’ guide below.
1. Action – Aidan O’Brien/Wayne Lordan (Stall 11)
Disappointing to learn his two siblings are not called Lights and Camera, though from a racing perspective, it’s certainly a positive that one of them is last year’s Derby winner Lambourn. Action’s sire being Frankel lends a less stout pedigree than does being by Australia. However, the first of Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle brigade should be all-action to the finish, seeing out 1m2½f well for second in the Dante at York. Goes on soft ground, but balance of form only makes him an each-way player from a sticky draw.
3/5
2. Alderman – Richard Hannon/Pat Dobbs (6)
It’s rare that a maiden runs in the Derby, but Alderman is one of two this year. That is not a sparkling advertisement for the quality of this richer renewal. Richard Hannon’s charge was average in two maidens at two, then slightly above average on return at Newbury over 1m3f. He was probably beaten by a serious winner in Water To Wine that day, but unless that Gosden horse turns out to be Frankel (he won’t) then this son of Study Of Man has no chance of threatening at Epsom. He has no chance even if he does.
1/5
3. Ancient Egypt – Charlie Johsnton/David Egan (10)
Trainer saddled last year’s runner-up, though neither he or dad Mark, the long-standing Middleham head honcho, have ever won this. There will be some pearl clutching among the hospitality if Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing have the winner. It’s possible too, Ancient Egypt having already proven more hardy than his siblings. Saw out 1m2f at Newmarket well, but 1m4f is a bit of a worry. Form of Listed win is solid and likely to make a Group race breakthrough. Enough doubts remain, including with the ground, but has an historically kind draw.
3/5
4. A Taste Of Glory – Andrew Balding/Jamie Spencer (7)
If merely taking part gets you A Taste Of Glory, then this colt has at least achieved that already. If you have to actually possess a chance of winning then he falls short. Has won twice and beat a decent horse at Lingfield in March. Was last of six in that track’s Derby Trial though, hanging after leading the race. Trainer has done well with those at big prices in the Derby before. It would be a miracle if he achieves a place here though.
1/5
5. Balzac – Jane Chapple-Hyam/Silvestre De Sousa (2)
Named after the French playwright presumably and sure to be popular among those who have had a drink or two at the course. Don’t worry, the bookies won’t be laughing at your pronunciation, rather that you’ve chosen to back this horse. Has Epsom experience, running respectably when third in the Listed Blue Riband Trial. Nearly seven lengths behind Maltese Cross in the Lingfield Derby Trial and that is about his level. Will not finish last. Definitely will not finish first, especially with stall 2 hoodoo attached.
1/5
6. Bay Of Brilliance – Ralph Beckett/Hector Crouch (9)
Should be called Chestnut Of Champions, being definitively lighter-hued than his name suggests. The Lingfield trial runner-up battled all the way to the line that day and no wonder: he is a half-brother to Cheltenham Festival winner Absurde. There is stamina to be found in many places in his pedigree, perhaps too much. Has won by more than eight lengths over 1m1f, so clearly has some tactical pace, as well as winning experience with soft in the going. Likelier than most in this muddling field.
4/5
7. Benvenuto Cellini – Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore (12)
As the old racing saying goes, if you’ve already won it with one sculptor, why not with another? Benvenuto Cellini was Italian, surprise surprise, contrary to possessing Auguste Rodin’s Gallic heritage. I’m sure the man was beautifully bred too; the horse certainly is. Parents are both Group 1 winners so it is a matter of time before the Chester Vase winner adds one too. It could so easily come here, but the lingering spectre of soft ground threatens to scupper that chance at Epsom. On the premises either way.
4/5
8. Christmas Day – Aidan O’Brien/Ronan Whelan (5)
Over halfway through the field and still only on the letter “c”. Owners need to get more creative. A Christmas Day winning in June would be whimsical enough I suppose. There is also a fine chance that happens despite his price. Improved with every start at two, then won Leopardstown’s Ballysax Stakes under a penalty. Two rivals who are much shorter prices were behind him that day due to Santa Claus, in this case Ryan Moore, driving the sleigh the wrong way at York next time out. Seemingly bottom on jockey bookings for Ballydoyle. That did not matter for Lambourn last year and may not again.
5/5
9. Item – Andrew Balding/Colin Keane (3)
What are we dear readers? Are we an Item? It’s a terrible word to define a couple, but a plausible one to describe this year’s Derby winner. He’s an unbeaten Juddmonte runner, sired by Frankel, who was campaigned modestly at two before stepping up monumentally to land the Dante. Won that with authority but benefitted from Ryan Moore’s decision to steer most of his rivals to the stands side. He stayed central and won well, but that form is reversible for all this is a horse who possesses the right credentials.
3/5
10. James J Braddock – Joseph O’Brien/Dylan Browne McMonagle (13)
A former heavyweight world champion, James J Braddock may pack the right punches. Has a variety of weapons in his hooves to deliver the knockout blow, be they a raking, long stride, stamina on both his sire and dam’s side, and even some form. He stayed on best to land the judges’ decision on the line in Leopardstown’s Derby Trial in May. The suspicion is that form needs working on, but rain is no issue for this boxing colt. Will he float like a butterfly, or be stung by the downs?
3/5
11. Maltese Cross – William Haggas/Tom Marquand (1)
If you like a horse who Secretariats his rivals, look elsewhere. Maltese Cross has so far won by a head, a neck and a neck in his three victories, and was beaten a neck on debut. If he wins, back the photo finish option as well. He does keep winning though, and it is difficult to speak fairer. Loads of 1m4f pedigree and saw out Lingfield Oaks Trial dourly. Runner-up has the better form on slower going, but no surprise whatsoever if this son of Sea The Stars puts up a fight to emulate his dad.
4/5
12. Pierre Bonnard – Aidan O’Brien/Christophe Soumillon (8)
Modernist, avant-garde, intimate. All words to describe an Aidan O’Brien interview. Oh, and also Pierre Bonnard’s paintings. You wouldn’t use them to describe Pierre the horse’s efforts so far in 2026. He has disappointed in being beaten on both starts, but he was a Group 1 winner over 1m2f as a juvenile. That came on soft ground in France and also made him ante-post favourite for this race. He has lost that position, but plenty of backers will retain the faith. Undoubtedly needs to show more than of late, but conditions may enable that.
3/5
13. Poker – Karl Burke/Rowan Scott (4)
The second of the maidens, but get this: he was bought by Amo Racing for 4,300,000gns. That would be eyewatering if he even had a chance to win the Epsom Derby. He doesn’t even possess those claims, winless in three and scarping a rating of 80 that makes him eligible for the race. Might eventually come good at a respectable level, but is only in this because of his price tag.
1/5
14. Rebel Rocker – Faye Bramley/Rob Hornby (14)
If you want to back one of the triple-digit shots, this is probably the one. Rebel Rocker has the least flashy pedigree and represents the least fashionable connections. However, he won on debut and ran a belter when second in the Listed Blue Riband Trial at Epsom in April. That form has taken some hits since, but he did at least go well at the track and feasible that the dream is still alive at some point in the home straight. Probably three furlongs from home.
2/5
Verdict
If this proves a good ground Derby, Benvenuto Cellini may have too much class. With rain around to possibly scupper his chance, there is enough variety in this field to oppose him. Stablemate Christmas Day disappointed in the Dante at York, but Ryan Moore’s radar was peculiarly awry that day. His earlier Leopardstown form puts him right in the picture and he copes with softer ground. Lingfield duo Bay Of Brilliance and Maltese Cross also enter calculations, with the former fancied to overturn form with the latter.
- Christmas Day
- Bay Of Brilliance
- Maltese Cross