Ruling Court leads 19 contenders for Derby crown
For the first time ever the race was subject to 72-hour declarations, with Epsom hoping the change helps to build anticipation as the Godolphin runner attempts to keep his Triple Crown dreams alive.
There will be a second runner in the Godolphin blue as Saeed bin Suroor's Tornado Alert, fourth in the Guineas, also runs for Sheikh Mohammed's operation.
Aidan O'Brien has three leading contenders in Delacroix, winner of the two best Derby trials in Ireland, The Lion In Winter, who was favourite for the race all winter and Lambourn, successful in the Chester Vase.
Ralph Beckett's Pride Of Arras has plenty of followers as he arrives unbeaten and a smooth winner of the Dante at York, which is traditionally one of the strongest trials. Beckett also runs Stanhope Gardens.
John and Thady Gosden also have multiple chances with Damysus and Nightwalker, who were second and fifth in the Dante.
There are two runners from France in Francis-Henri Graffard's Midak and Henri-Francois Devin's New Ground, with the pair both supplemented for the race on Monday.
Charlie Johnston has declared both Lazy Griff, second to Lambourn at Chester, and Green Storm, the mount of Billy Loughnane.
Al Wasl Storm, Nightime Dancer, Rogue Impact, Sea Scout, Tennessee Stud and Tuscan Hills complete the list.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
NFL legend Terry Bradshaw slammed after making embarrassing mistake live on TV at Belmont Stakes
Saturday was the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes, but four-time Super Bowl winner Terry Bradshaw swears the final leg of the Triple Crown doesn't look a day over 137. 'Hello folks,' the Pittsburgh Steelers great said in Saratoga during the traditional 'Riders Up' call. 'On behalf Fox Sports and the millions of thoroughbred racing fans around the world. Welcome to the 137th running of the Belmont Stakes.' The 76-year-old Louisiana native then gave the 'Riders Up' command and the race began shortly thereafter, with Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty outpacing Preakness victor Journalism for the victory. Despite the exciting race, many were instead focused on Bradshaw's gaffe. 'Terry Bradshaw is a legend, but on the set with 32 mins before the third jewel of the Triple Crown is a choice,' one critic wrote on X. Another added: 'Fox Sports broadcast of the Belmont is a joke with Terry Bradshaw.' Sovereignty with Junior Alvarado up, and and Baeza with Flavian Pratt up, head into the first turn in the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday Chris Fallica, an NFL research producer, also appeared on the broadcast with Bradshaw, prompting one critic to describe the pairing as a 'microcosm of everything wrong with Fox Sports.' Bradshaw recently told Mirror US Sports he plans to retire after the 2029 Super Bowl. The Louisiana Tech product also confessed he has two more years in his contract with Fox but hopes to work through Super Bowl LXIII at 80 before hanging the mic up for good. After being honored in New Orleans prior to Super Bowl LIX, Bradshaw revealed an honest conversation he had with his wife about his career. 'I told my wife before I left the room a while ago, I'm sitting there... I said, '"I've got two years left at FOX,"' Bradshaw said. '"I'm 76. Okay, so it's a young man's game. I get that."' Everybody wants the new.' Bradshaw has come under pressure from viewers to retire in recent years but has remained adamant about staying on the air in the face of criticism. 'I told FOX: "If I could just die on the show, think about the ratings, right? Are we not about ratings? That'd be huge. Not only that, there would be a huge carryover,"' he previously told Denver Sports radio station 104.3 FM.
NBC News
6 hours ago
- NBC News
Sovereignty beats Journalism to win the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Sovereignty bested Journalism on Saturday in a Kentucky Derby rematch to win the 157th Belmont Stakes, and the second hosted at Saratoga. Sovereignty and jockey Junior Alvarado traversed the field of eight on a fast Saratoga track after downpours throughout the morning and early afternoon dried up before post time. The 5-2 second favorite won in 2 minutes, 0.69 seconds, beating Preakness Stakes winner Journalism by three lengths. Journalism was second and Baeza was third — the same 1-2-3 as the Kentucky Derby. Journalism entered the gate at the Belmont as the 2-1 favorite, with Baeza the third favorite at 7-2. Sovereignty led off the first leg of the Triple Crown by winning the Derby in early May. The Bill Mott-trained colt also edged Journalism in that race. After the Derby win, the Godolphin-owned 3-year-old opted out of the Preakness Stakes to focus on the Belmont, forfeiting a shot at history to win the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown hasn't been won since 2018, when Bob Baffert's Justify won the 105th Belmont Stakes to secure the third jewel.
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- The Guardian
Sovereignty beats Journalism to win Belmont Stakes showdown at Saratoga
Sovereignty bested Journalism on Saturday in a Kentucky Derby rematch to win the 157th Belmont Stakes, and the second hosted at Saratoga. Sovereignty and jockey Junior Alvarado traversed the field of eight on a fast Saratoga track after downpours throughout the morning and early afternoon dried up before post time. Journalism was second and Baeza was third – the same 1-2-3 as the Kentucky Derby. Sovereignty led off the first leg of the Triple Crown by winning the Derby in early May. The Bill Mott-trained colt also edged Journalism in that race. After the Derby win, the Godolphin-owned 3-year-old opted out of the Preakness Stakes to focus on the Belmont, forfeiting a shot at history to win the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown hasn't been won since 2018, when Bob Baffert's Justify won the 105th Belmont Stakes to secure the third jewel. Journalism was the only horse to run in all three legs, winning the Preakness.
