Fourteen horses will head to the 1m 4f 6y start for the 2026 Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs. Off at 4pm on Saturday 6th June, it’s set to be a hugely competitive renewal of the Group 1 Classic.
Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews the race here and picks out his 1-2-3 for the contest. He also looks at the latest odds, trends and racecard for the showpiece Flat race of the season.
2026 Betfred Derby Runners
Aidan O’Brien already has 11 Derby wins on his CV, but the Ballydoyle handler bids for win number 12 on Saturday. He will yet again unleash a strong battalion of exciting three-year-old colts on the Epsom feature. Benvenuto Cellini is the standout shot fired by the Irish trainer having won at Chester in style. The pick of Ryan Moore, the Frankel colt scooted clear in the Chester Vase and shaped like he could be the next star of the O’Brien production line.
Pierre Bonnard is another O’Brien runner, but he has form to reverse with another of Saturday’s runners James J Braddock. The Joseph O’Brien-trained raider downed Pierre Bonnard in the Leopardstown Derby Trial and both head to Epsom with a leading chance. Third in the Dante Stakes, Christmas Day is the third O’Brien runner, whilst Action completes a four-strong quartet.
The aforementioned Christmas Day was beaten by Item in the Dante Stakes at York, and they will lock horns again. Andrew Balding’s Item burst into the Derby picture with a fine win that day and the Frankel colt is one of those with untapped potential here. Unbeaten in three starts he is one that has to be given a huge chance.
It’s been 30 years since William Haggas won the Derby with Shaamit, but he has a key challenger in Maltese Cross. Impressive when winning the Lingfield Derby Trial he is one that could continue on an upward curve. Bay Of Brilliance and Ancient Egypt are another brace of runners that could be potential each-way contenders.
2026 Betfred Derby Racecard
16:00 Epsom
Good To SoftBetfred Derby (Group 1) (No Geldings)
- First Prize: £1000000
- 1m 4f 6y
- Class 1
- 14 runners
Runners: 14 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Terms and conditions
*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.
Betting Forecast
16/1 Action, 200/1 Alderman, 14/1 Ancient Egypt, 150/1 A Taste Of Glory, 150/1 Balzac, 12/1 Bay Of Brilliance, 2/1 Benvenuto Cellini, 20/1 Christmas Day, 7/2 Item, 10/1 James J Braddock, 9/1 Maltese Cross, 5/1 Pierre Bonnard, 200/1 Poker, 100/1 Rebel Rocker
Verdict
Aidan O’Brien keeps chalking up the Derby winners, not necessarily with his apparent first string ridden by Ryan Moore but the pair can team up to winning effect again this year with BENVENUTO CELLINI. He’s proved his stamina and did so at Chester, which strengthens the chance that he will handle this idiosyncratic track, but it must be said that soft ground would give him more to prove and how much rain has fallen on Thursday and Friday could be of major relevance. O’Brien second string Pierre Bonnard is feared most based on the abundant promise of his major 1m2f wins as a 2yo, which has not yet been fulfilled but his latest start suggests that he is heading back in the right direction. That race was won in last-gasp fashion by James J Braddock, who can raise his game even further over this longer trip, as can the Lingfield Derby Trial winner Maltese Cross and they are both serious each-way contenders. The principal British-trained hope, though, appears to be Item who is one of the least experienced horses in the race but the only unbeaten one. He swatted aside Action and Christmas Day (today’s O’Brien third and fourth string) in the prestigious Dante at York over an extended 1m2f but he’s not the nailed-on certainty to relish 1m4f which Benvenuto Cellini is.[Richard Austen]
Selections
2026 Betfred Derby Trends
Check out the key Derby trends to be aware of ahead of Saturday’s Classic at Epsom Downs.
2026 Betfred Derby Tips
Aidan O’Brien is hard to ignore when looking at a Derby and the manner in which Benvenuto Cellini quickened to win at Chester last time suggested he could be every bit a Group 1 star. He will have his stablemate Pierre Bonnard to beat, who should relish a bit of cut in the ground should the rain arrive. Meanwhile, Maltese Cross and Item can battle it out for third spot, with the former just prevailing.
FAQ
When and where is the Derby run?
The Derby will take place at Epsom racecourse on Saturday 6th June, 2026 at 4.00pm.
How can I watch the Derby on Friday?
The Derby is live on ITV at 4.00pm on Saturday afternoon.
When were the Derby tips published?
The tips for the Derby were published at 10.45am on Friday 5th June.
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