The Epsom Derby, with its prime prize of £1m, takes place on Saturday at 4pm.
The favorite, Benvenuto Cellini, appears to be like a stable guess. He stays, seems to have tempo and stability and I can not see Ryan Moore selecting any of the opposite six Ballydoyle runners over him.
If it involves a dogfight I like Maltese Cross, who has 3 times been headed and fought again. I see Historical Egypt operating a giant race however, at one fifth the chances, these two nonetheless don’t symbolize nice worth.
Nevertheless, when you like Maltese Cross as a result of he retains successful then you definitely even have to love 66-1 shot Causeway, a lazy sort who has received his previous 4. It’s in all probability value checking whether or not he’s declared on Wednesday, however it could not be the most important shock to me had been he to run a giant race.
My horse-by-horse information to the 2026 Epsom Derby
Motion – 16-1
Proprietor: Mr M Tabor, D. Smith and Mrs John MagnierTrainer: Aidan O’BrienA Ballydoyle Frankel colt who’s one win from six begins. Was solely half a size behind French Derby runner-up Hawk Mountain in Futurity final 12 months, so within the unlikely occasion there’s mud underfoot it could not be detrimental to his probabilities. Stable 2¾ lengths behind Merchandise in Dante, although ostensibly there to set the tempo for Christmas Day. May run nicely however carries head excessive and often finds no less than a number of too good.
Alderman – 200-1
Proprietor: Mrs J Wooden Coach: Richard HannonThrice raced maiden who completed 4½ lengths second to former Derby hope Water To Wine at Newbury in a one-mile-three-furlong maiden on final begin. Will begin at an enormous worth. In principle no likelihood however how usually will we see a long-priced positioned horse within the Derby? Virtually yearly.
Historical Egypt – 12-1
Proprietor: Amo Racing LtdTrainer: Charlie JohnstonAmo has twice completed second within the Derby and Johnston additionally stuffed that spot final 12 months with Lazy Griff. This £1.1m colt additionally appears to be like good each-way worth. His solely defeat got here at two when he was nicely overwhelmed within the Royal Lodge by 2,000 Guineas winner Bow Echo.
There may be cause to suspect he was under par that day, however he returned to Newmarket in spring to land the Listed Newmarket Stakes over a mile and 1 / 4 by two lengths. Was 16-1 that day. Ought to enhance for the additional quarter-mile and seemed snug at Epsom in a gallop around the course final week.
A Style of Glory – 150-1
Proprietor: Inexperienced Group Racing Coach: Andrew BaldingLast of six in Lingfield behind Derby hopes Maltese Cross and Bay of Brilliance. Proprietor loves a crack at this race and has a few long-priced seconds however it’s laborious to see this one selecting up an excessive amount of prize cash.
Balzac – 150-1
Proprietor and coach: Mrs Jane Chapple-HyamGerman-bred colt who appears to be like a bit under the extent required to win a Derby, however there’s all the time an extended shot within the cash on this race. Was 2¼ lengths behind Maltese Cross on juvenile debut, received on all-weather earlier than ending third in Epsom and Lingfield trials however 6¾ behind Maltese Cross final time when slow-run race didn’t assist. A bit additional at a greater gallop may assist. Coach’s ex-husband received it twice.
Bay of Brilliance – 12-1
Proprietor: Valmont Coach: Ralph BeckettWide-margin Redcar novice winner at two in silks which have change into fairly acquainted in latest seasons, if not fairly at this degree. A half-brother to Ebor and Cheltenham winner Absurde. Should you take his neck defeat by Maltese Cross within the Lingfield trial – first day trip this season, versus the winner’s second begin – at face worth, this colt’s odds are a whole anomaly. If Maltese Cross is 8-1 I’m not positive why Bay of Brilliance was 16-1. Makes him a price guess if nothing else. The coach isn’t any stranger to Basic success with Oaks and St Leger wins.
Benvenuto Cellini – 7-4
Proprietor: Brant/Magnier/Tabor/Smith/Westerberg Coach: Aidan O’Brien, IrelandNamed after a Sixteenth-century sculptor, goldsmith and creator. Large white-faced chestnut Frankel colt who shall be straightforward to identify coming down Tattenham Hill. Gained a Group Two nicely on third of 4 begins at two, however then received caught within the mud within the Futurity. Was 4½-length winner of the Chester Vase so journey no problemo and he seemed nicely balanced. Undecided how instantaneous his gear change is, however the finish end result was good. Promoted to Derby favorite earlier than Vase and much more worthy of that place, afterwards significantly with Structure River having gone to France.
Causeway – 66-1
Proprietor: Mr M Tabor, D Smith and Mrs John Magnier Coach: Aidan O’Brien, IrelandUnder-the-radar Ballydoyle colt who’s the winner of the final 4 of his 5 begins. Dam didn’t do a lot, however is a half-sister to Magical and Rhododendron, so from an excellent household. Lazy sort who would in all probability have the cheekpieces on if he lined up at Epsom. Was carded to go to Royal Ascot, so have to be doing one thing to vary the coach’s thoughts.
Christmas Day – 25-1
Proprietor: Magnier/Tabor/Smith/Westerberg/Brant Coach: Aidan O’Brien, IrelandHeadline writers would really like this one to come back in; Christmas Day in June and so on. Overturned extra fancied stablemate Pierre Bonnard within the Ballysax Stakes but when that was one step ahead then Dante was one step again. Made to look a bit vin ordinaire in third behind Merchandise and stablemate Motion. Undecided the place he’s in Ballydoyle pecking order, however not on the prime of it.
Endorsement – 66-1
Proprietor: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M, Tabor, Westerberg Coach: Aidan O’Brien, IrelandKnocking on the door in a few trials this season, half a size behind Christmas Day after which James J Braddock in Ballysax and Cashel Palace – each instances as pacemaker. His job would seem like fairly clear: make it an honest, degree gallop for Ballydoyle’s extra fancied runners.
Merchandise – 10-3
Proprietor: Juddmonte Coach: Andrew BaldingA Juddmonte homebred by Frankel who has a number of issues going for him. He appears to be like an uncomplicated trip, he has a pleasant perspective, he’s unbeaten so now we have not discovered his limits but. The additional he went, the higher he went within the Dante on his first begin of the season, successful with some authority. Coach’s earlier Dante winners didn’t go on to Epsom glory, Bonfire was sixth, The Foxes was fifth however, 55 years after Mill Reef received for his late father, Ian, Merchandise has a stable likelihood.
James J Braddock – 10-1
Proprietor: Mr Kevin Blake Joseph Coach: Patrick O’BrienA £40,000 yearling owned by a racing pundit and named after the US world heavyweight boxing champion with an iron chin and whose center identify was really Walter, however took the “J” as a result of two earlier champions had it as their center identify. Gained a maiden by six lengths on the heavy however improved to beat Pierre Bonnard in his trial and appears like he might enhance once more for one more two furlongs. Coach received the race twice as a jockey. It’s only a matter of time earlier than he wins it as a coach.
Maltese Cross – 8-1
Proprietor: Mr George Waud Coach: William HaggasA £350,000 yearling owned by the producer/director who introduced us the 2006 film Snakes on a Aircraft, this colt has developed a mode of successful which is finest summed up as “simply”. His three wins from 4 begins have been by a head, a neck and a neck. Connections is not going to thoughts if it is just by an inch that he wins the Derby. He may by no means be flashy however he appears to get it performed and it’s laborious to know what his restrict may be. The final Lingfield Trial winner to go on to Epsom glory was Anthony Van Dyke in 2019 nevertheless it additionally threw up Adayar in 2021.
Pierre Bonnard – 7-1
Proprietor: Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg Coach: Aidan O’Brien, IrelandNamed after the French painter who bridged the hole between impressionism and modernism. Good two-year-old profession noticed him win the Zetland Stakes and Grand Critérium de Saint-Cloud on the heavy, placing himself within the Derby body. However equine Pierre Bonnard has been bridging the hole between over-hyped and disappointing this season; nicely overwhelmed by Christmas Day within the Ballysax, simply overwhelmed within the Cashel Palace by James J Braddock. Held in such excessive esteem by Ballydoyle, I suppose it could not be the most important shock if he produced it on the day however is just not the secure’s first string now, that’s for positive.
Poker – 100-1
Proprietor: Amo Racing Restricted Coach: KR BurkeExpensive yearling who, so far, has solely helped cement Kia Joorabchian’s popularity as a giant spender. It was all the time going to be a giant ask to warrant his preliminary value, nevertheless it needs to be thought to be a disappointment that he’s nonetheless a maiden after three begins and is wanting a bit like 4.3gns’ value of sluggish. Ought to win the odd handicap in due time however Derby appears to be like formidable.
Proposition – 100-1
Proprietor: Mrs John Magnier, Mr M Tabor and Mr D Smith Coach: Aidan O’Brien, IrelandSmall colt who received a maiden within the mud at two and carried out pacemaking duties for Benvenuto Cellini within the Chester Vase. Went about 10 lengths clear and collared a couple of furlong and a half out. Entrance-runners, if given breathers on the proper time, can keep in entrance for a great distance within the Derby however, in contrast to 2020 Covid winner Serpentine who was 12 lengths clear at one stage in one of many worst Derbies ever run, often get overhauled late on.
Insurgent Rocker – 100-1
Proprietor: Miss Jennifer Dorey Coach: Faye BramleyOne of the least skilled runners within the discipline with two runs up to now. Not sired by a stayer however dam appears to place stamina into her offspring. Stayed on for second in Epsom trial, he would symbolize a primary runner within the race for Faye Bramley. Might enhance for additional however would seem quick on required class at this degree. Odds of 100-1 look about proper.
