3 hours ago
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Action
Trainer/jockey: Aidan O’Brien/Wayne Lordan, stall 11
Timeform rating: 125. Odds: 25-1
Pedigree: Frankel/Gossamer Wings (Scat Daddy)
Finished a half-length second to Hawk Mountain in the Group One Futurity on heavy ground at Doncaster last season, form that reads well after the winner finished second in the French Derby a few days ago and also after the recent rain at Epsom. Was a creditable two-and-three-quarter length second behind Item in the Dante Stakes at York last month and the step up in trip could conceivably see further improvement, though the dam’s side of his pedigree is not nearly as stamina-laden as is the case for many from this yard.
Alderman
Richard Hannon/Pat Dobbs, stall 6
Timeform: 97p. Odds: 250-1
Study Of Man/Alagappa (Archipenko)
Steadily progressive in three outings so far, most recently finishing four-and-a-quarter lengths behind Water To Wine over 11 furlongs at Newbury. The fact that the race was a maiden event, though, does rather give the game away regarding his chance on Saturday afternoon, as the last Derby winner without a previous success to his name was Merry Hampton, who made his racecourse debut in the Classic in 1887.
Ancient Egypt
Charlie Johnston/David Egan, stall 10
Timeform: 123p. Odds: 16-1
Frankel/Atone (Oasis Dream)
One of two seven-figure yearling colts at the elite Tattersalls Book 1 sale in October 2024 that were knocked down to football super-agent Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation, and while both have made it into the field, this one looks far more likely to cover his giddy purchase price. As you would expect, he has a pedigree that leaps off the page – by the great Frankel out of a full sister to a multiple Group One winner – and there is just one blip on his four-race career record, when well beaten in the Royal Lodge Stakes last season. Returned to the fray with a convincing success in the Newmarket Stakes in early May, and while that contest has not been won by the subsequent Derby winner since 1985, he certainly looked at ease on the track at the annual gallops morning last week. Will also exit from the most successful stall, which has housed 11 winners in all, including Lambourn last year.
Taste Of Glory
Andrew Balding/Jamie Spencer, stall 7
Timeform rating: 105. Odds: 300-1
Pedigree: Soldier Hollow/Aothea (Areion)
It would not feel like the Derby without a cheaply bought and - on paper at least - wildly optimistic runner in the colours of Ahmad al-Sheikh, and this €20k purchase is the latest successor to the likes of Khalifa Sat (150-1), Hoo Ya Mal (50-1) and Al Wasl Storm (50-1) in recent years. It is only fair to point out that both Khalifa Sat and Hoo Ya Mal came home in second place, but Al Wasl Storm bucked the trend 12 months ago, finishing 15th of 18 runners, and there is not a scrap of evidence in this one’s form that suggests he will fare any better.
Balzac
Jane Chapple-Hyam/Silvestre de Sousa, stall 2
Timeform: 112. Odds: 150-1
Japan/Brit Wit (High Chaparral)
Only win in four starts was in an all-weather maiden at Kempton in April and he has subsequently been beaten in both the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom and then behind Maltese Cross and Bay Of Brilliance at Lingfield. He was six-and-a-half lengths behind the runner-up there, so even if you take the view that it is strong form overall, there is no reason to think he can reverse the placings with either of the front pair so the bottom end of mid-division is the realistic height of his ambitions. Box two has not produced a winner since stalls were introduced in 1967, and it will not be housing one this year, either.
Bay Of Brilliance
Ralph Beckett/Hector Crouch, stall 9
Timeform: 128p. Odds: 16-1
New Bay/Incroyable (Singspiel)
Forced Maltese Cross to pull out all the stops in the Lingfield Trial, having coped well with the downhill run to the straight before quickening to lead two furlongs out. Battled on well to get to within a neck of the winner once he was headed, an effort that can be further marked up as he was making his seasonal debut against a rival with a run under his belt. The time was no more than average but the overall impression was of two very classy colts duking it out, and there may be very little to choose between them once again at the business end this weekend.
Benvenuto Cellini
Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore, stall 12
Timeform: 130p. Odds: 9-4
Frankel/Newspaperofrecord (Lope De Vega)
Boasts an impeccable pedigree, was a convincing winner of what has been one of the best trials in recent years, and will be saddled by a trainer with a record 11 wins to his name already with stable No 1 Ryan Moore taking the reins. An identikit Derby favourite, in other words, although the recent rain at Epsom is a slight concern as he was only third of five runners when favourite for the Futurity on heavy ground at Doncaster in October. Not quite as far clear of his rivals on the ratings as his odds might suggest, having also had more starts than several leading rivals, but will prove irresistible for many backers all the same.
Christmas Day
Aidan O’Brien/Ronan Whelan, stall 5
Timeform: 125p. Odds: 25-1
Camelot/Beauly (Sea The Stars)
Set off as the favourite for the Dante at York last month on the back of his win in the Ballysax Stakes in April (with Pierre Bonnard and James J Braddock among the also-rans) and though he never really looked likely to overhaul Item or his pace-setting stable companion, Action, he stayed on into a four-and-a-half length third place. With more rain expected at Epsom, optimists could point to his stamina-laded pedigree and previous fine efforts with cut in the ground as reasons to hope for better on Saturday, but the bare form from York clearly leaves him with plenty to find and less scope to do so than the lightly raced Item.
Item
Andrew Balding/Colin Keane, stall 3
Timeform: 129p. Odds: 4-1
Pedigree: Frankel/Capla Temptress (Lope De Vega)
The only unbeaten runner in the field after an emphatic success in the Dante Stakes at York, where he was still showing a few signs of his relative inexperience after hitting the front but still came home nearly three lengths clear. It would be odd if he did not find some improvement for the outing, while the step up in trip should not be an issue, either. Soft or heavy ground, though, might temper enthusiasm, not least given the evidence from the Knavesmire that he remains a work in progress and possibly not ready for a slog at this stage of his career.
James J Braddock
Joseph O’Brien/Dylan Browne McMonagle, stall 13
Timeform: 123p. Odds: 12-1
Zarak/Burkins Faso (Mukhadram)
Short-headed Pierre Bonnard in the Leopardstown Trial last time out and also won his maiden at the Curragh last year by six lengths on heavy going, so cut in the ground on Saturday should hold no fears. The fact that there were three horses within half a length of each other at Leopardstown has to put a query over the strength of the form, but O’Brien, twice a Derby-winning rider for his father, Aidan, during a brief career in the saddle, will still head to Epsom with his best chance yet to become only the fourth person to both ride and train a winner.
Maltese Cross
William Haggas/Tom Marquand, stall 1
Timeform: 128p. Odds: 10-1
Sea The Stars/Nabatea (Camelot)
His three victories from four starts to date so far have come by a combined total of half a length, so while some punters might prefer their Derby pick to have won a trial with daylight back to the runner-up, there can be no doubting his will to win. Glided down the hill at Lingfield last month before knuckling down to edge out Bay Of Brilliance by a neck, and has progressed with every step up in trip - hardly surprising for a colt whose pedigree is stamina through-and-through. Haggas won with a seasonal debutant in Shaamit in 1996, which is no mean feat, and has had just four Derby runners in total during his long and highly successful career, so the fact that he is keen to let this one take his chance is a tip in itself. Draw in stall one is sub-optimal, but its reputation as the “coffin box” has been at least slightly eroded by two winners in recent seasons.
Pierre Bonnard
Aidan O’Brien/Christophe Soumillon, stall 8
Timeform: 123p. Odds: 5-1
Camelot/Sultanina (New Approach)
A hugely promising two-year-old season, including a Group One win in France in October, had “Epsom” written all over it, and this son of the 2012 winner, Camelot, spent the winter at the top of the ante-post market. A shaky start to his three-year-old campaign has taken off some of the shine, however, although his effort to finish a short-head behind James J Braddock in the Leopardstown Trial was at least an improvement on a very lacklustre reappearance. Recent rain can only be good news for a colt who won over 10 furlongs on soft ground at two and Christophe Soumillon is an eye-catching jockey booking, but the level of the form still looks a bit below a couple of the other trials.
Poker
Karl Burke/Rowan Scott, stall 4
Timeform: 97p. Odds: 150-1
Wootton Bassett/Park Bloom (Galileo)
Was the most expensive yearling colt in the world when he was knocked down for 4.3m gns (£4.5m) at Tattersalls during Kia Joorabchian’s full-pelt, head-down charge into the market for high-end bloodstock in October 2024. Has yet to show anything like the form to match his price tag, however, having failed to register even a single win from three starts, and the same owner’s Ancient Egypt, who cost around a quarter of the price at the same sale, looks far more likely to give Joorabchian a return on his massive investment.
Rebel Rocker
Faye Bramley/Rob Hornby, stall 14
Timeform: 114. Odds: 200-1
Cityscape/Miss Minuty (Verglas)
The racing world is no place for a pessimist and Jennifer Dorey, the owner-breeder of Faye Bramley’s first Derby runner, is giving Ahmad al-Sheikh a run for his money in this year’s “Have-A-Go Hero” Stakes. She bought Miss Minuty, Rebel Rocker’s dam, out of a seller at Wolverhampton in 2014, picked up five wins and numerous placings in low-grade handicaps over the next four seasons, and is now sending her fourth foal to Epsom. He has at least had a sighter of the course when finishing second in the Blue Riband in April, but needs to improve by a least a stone on that form for even a top-half finish.
