Final Derby 2025 field as 19 horses line up for the £1.5 Epsom Classic
The £1.5 million Betfed Derby has attracted the biggest field since 2003 after a whopping 19 horses were declared for Britain's richest race on Wednesday.
The line-up was completed at a special draw ceremony in Epsom town centre where Derby-winning jockeys Willie Carson and Martin Dwyer picked the stalls positions, which could have a direct bearing on the outcome of the race. Ante-post favourites Delacroix, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore, and 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court secured favourable berths in 14 and 7 respectively.
Yet The Lion In Winter, Aidan O'Brien's deposed favourite, will have to overcome a wide 19 draw. O'Brien's third representative, Lambourn, the Chester Vase winner, got the 'lucky stall' and will start from 10, from which 11 winners have emerged.
For the first time ever, the race was subject to 72-hour declarations, with Epsom hoping the change helps to build anticipation ahead of the premier Classic.
There will be a second runner in the Godolphin blue as Saeed bin Suroor's Tornado Alert (11), fourth in the Guineas, also runs for Sheikh Mohammed's operation.
Ralph Beckett's Pride Of Arras arrives unbeaten and a smooth winner of the Dante, which is traditionally one of the strongest trials, but he is posted wide in 16, with stablemate Stanhope Gardens on the inside in two. John and Thady Gosden also have multiple chances with Damysus (15) and Nightwalker (five), who were second and fifth in the Dante.
There are two runners from France in Francis-Henri Graffard's Midak (four) and Henri-Francois Devin's New Ground (17), with the pair both supplemented for the race on Monday. Charlie Johnston has declared both Lazy Griff (three), second to Lambourn at Chester, and Green Storm (eight), the mount of Billy Loughnane.
Al Wasl Storm (13), Nightime Dancer (nine), Rogue Impact (one), Sea Scout (18), Tennessee Stud (12) and Tuscan Hills (six) complete the list.
Epsom's clerk of the course Andrew Cooper expects the ground to ride on the easy side of good at the weekend. He said: 'It's been a difficult spring, it's been so dry, this is my 30th Derby and I've never known such a prolonged dry period.
'It's been challenging, it hasn't been great for grass, it's been constant irrigation just to get where we want to be. Here and now I would call it good, that follows 3.5 millimetres of rain yesterday afternoon which was forecast but very localised.
'It looks like another spell of rain is coming tomorrow and Saturday, with the potential to have some heavy showers. It's unsettled for sure. On a raceday it doesn't take a lot to start shifting descriptions.
'I can't see a scenario with ground any quicker than good on Saturday and there's every indication we'll be on the slower side through the two days.'
Derby runners, riders and latest betting
3.30pm, Epsom Downs, Saturday 7th June Al Wasl Storm (IRE) 3 9 2 Green Team Racing Owen Burrows David ProbertDamysus 3 9 2 Wathnan Racing John & Thady Gosden James DoyleDelacroix (IRE) 3 9 2 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien Ireland Ryan MooreGreen Storm (IRE) 3 9 2 Ahmad Al Shaikh Charlie Johnston Billy LoughnaneLambourn (IRE) 3 9 2 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith Aidan O'Brien Ireland Wayne LordanLazy Griff (GER) 3 9 2 Middleham Park Racing & Mr G Griffiths Charlie Johnston Christophe SoumillonMidak (FR) 3 9 2 Aga Khan Studs Scea Francis-Henri Graffard France Mickael BarzalonaNew Ground 3 9 2 Juddmonte Henri Francois Devin France Alexis PouchinNightime Dancer (IRE) 3 9 2 Stall Perlen Ab Richard Hannon Jamie SpencerNightwalker 3 9 2 Juddmonte John & Thady Gosden Tom MarquandPride of Arras (IRE) 3 9 2 Mrs David Aykroyd Ralph Beckett Rossa RyanRogue Impact 3 9 2 The Rogues Gallery James Owen Luke MorrisRuling Court (USA) 3 9 2 Godolphin Charlie Appleby William BuickSea Scout (IRE) 3 9 2 Mr Abdulla Al Mansoori Simon & Ed Crisford Harry DaviesStanhope Gardens (IRE) 3 9 2 Marcstown Ltd and New Chelsea Ralph Beckett Hector CrouchTennessee Stud (IRE) 3 9 2 Westerberg,Tabor,Magnier,Smith Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Dylan Browne McMonagleThe Lion In Winter (IRE) 3 9 2 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien Ireland Colin KeaneTornado Alert (IRE) 3 9 2 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor Oisin MurphyTuscan Hills (FR) 3 9 2 Amo Racing Limited Raphael Freire David Egan
Latest Betfred odds (Non-Runner, No Bet): 3-1 Delacroix, Ruling Court, 5 Pride of Arras, 6 The Lion In Winter, 12 Damysus, 14 Lambourn, Midak, 16 Stanhope Gardens, 22 Nightwalker, 33 Tornado Alert, Tennessee Stud, 50 New Ground, 66 Tuscan Hills, 80 Lazy Griff, 100 Al Wasl Storm., 125 Sea Scout, Nightime Dancer, 200 Green Storm, Rogue Impact
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