Delacroix leads the way as 20 remain in Derby contention
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Delacroix propelled himself to the head of the Classic betting with conclusive victories in two spring Derby trials, adding to his narrow defeat in last year's Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.
He is one of four contenders from Ballydoyle, with The Lion In Winter another key name despite his odds-on defeat in the Dante, while Lambourn and Puppet Master won trials at Chester and Lingfield respectively.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Ruling Court bids to another Classic to his CV, with the 2000 Guineas winner one of two for Godolphin along with the Newmarket fourth Tornado Alert for Saeed bin Suroor.
Dante winner Pride Of Arras is one of two possibles for Ralph Beckett who could also run Stanhope Gardens while John and Thady Gosden have confirmed both York second Damysus and the Juddmonte-owned fifth Nightwalker.
Juddmonte have added a second string to their bow though, as French raider New Ground has been supplemented at a cost of £75,000 after finishing third in each of his two starts for trainer Henri-Francois Devin this season.
The son of New Bay was beaten just a length by French Derby runner-up Cualificar in April and Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon is confident he will thrive for stepping up in trip.
He said: 'His form is good and we think he is crying out for a mile and a half.
'We could have taken him to Chantilly, but decided to wait to go to Epsom. He's in great form.'
The Francis Graffard-trained Midak has also been added to the race and he will carry the colours of the Aga Khan Studs, with the race run in honour of the Aga Khan IV, who died in February.
Charlie Johnston could be double-handed via Lazy Griff and Green Storm, with Al Wasl Storm, Nightime Dancer, Rogue Impact, Sea Scout, Tennessee Stud and Tuscan Hills round out the potential field.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
O'Brien looking to Curragh for Derby hero Lambourn
A son of dual Derby winner Australia, the three-year-old made virtually every yard of the running in the premier Classic under Wayne Lordan, providing O'Brien with his 11th Betfred Derby success. Speaking on Racing TV's Luck on Sunday programme, the Ballydoyle handler reported his three Derby runners to have returned home none the worse, with Lambourn's stablemates Delacroix and The Lion In Winter set to drop back in trip after finishing ninth and 14th respectively. 'The horses have been out for a walk and a pick of grass (this morning) and everybody seems very happy with them,' said O'Brien. "Lambourn's ran them RAGGED in the #EpsomDerby" 😮💨 A reminder of the CRACKER that Lambourn ran to win the 246th #BetfredDerby — ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 8, 2025 'We were expecting Wayne was probably going to go forward to make the running on Lambourn – unless there was someone going very fast he was going to end up in front and that's what happened. Wayne gave him a great ride, he had to be aggressive from the gates and he is a horse that stays very well.' O'Brien felt there were excuses for Delacroix, the chosen mount of Ryan Moore, and the Colin Keane-ridden The Lion In Winter. He added: 'It got a little bit rough up the hill, I think Ryan got chopped up at the top of the hill and Colin ended up a little bit more forward than he thought he was going to be and out a little bit. 'To have one horse in any race and it go right is very difficult, so if you have three in a race it's usually not going to go right for them all. 'We learnt that Wayne's horse stays very well and is a very straightforward, uncomplicated horse, we learnt Colin's horse could be a miler, so he was probably a mile out of his ground, and it's very possible that Ryan's horse is a mile-and-a-quarter horse, even though their races didn't go as well as they would have wanted. 'In the Derby every year you get fairly straightened out and sort out what you are or you aren't. The Derby and the Oaks are the races that expose the whole three-year-old generation, their flaws and their weaknesses and their strengths. You usually know where you're going after it.' On future plans for the winner, he said: 'The lads (owners) will make that decision and we'll see how he is when he gets back cantering in 10 days, but it looks like he's an Irish Derby horse and it looks like the Curragh would really suit him.' The trainer also praised the winning rider, who was winning his first Derby. 'Wayne is an unbelievable horseman and the most genuine, uncomplicated person you'll ever meet in your life,' O'Brien added. 'He's grateful for everything and expects nothing – that's Wayne totally. He' an unbelievable person to work with and an unbelievable rider, horseman and jockey all rolled into one.'
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
O'Brien looking to Curragh for Derby hero Lambourn
A son of dual Derby winner Australia, the three-year-old made virtually every yard of the running in the premier Classic under Wayne Lordan, providing O'Brien with his 11th Betfred Derby success. Speaking on Racing TV's Luck on Sunday programme, the Ballydoyle handler reported his three Derby runners to have returned home none the worse, with Lambourn's stablemates Delacroix and The Lion In Winter set to drop back in trip after finishing ninth and 14th respectively. 'The horses have been out for a walk and a pick of grass (this morning) and everybody seems very happy with them,' said O'Brien. "Lambourn's ran them RAGGED in the #EpsomDerby" 😮💨 A reminder of the CRACKER that Lambourn ran to win the 246th #BetfredDerby — ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 8, 2025 'We were expecting Wayne was probably going to go forward to make the running on Lambourn – unless there was someone going very fast he was going to end up in front and that's what happened. Wayne gave him a great ride, he had to be aggressive from the gates and he is a horse that stays very well.' O'Brien felt there were excuses for Delacroix, the chosen mount of Ryan Moore, and the Colin Keane-ridden The Lion In Winter. He added: 'It got a little bit rough up the hill, I think Ryan got chopped up at the top of the hill and Colin ended up a little bit more forward than he thought he was going to be and out a little bit. 'To have one horse in any race and it go right is very difficult, so if you have three in a race it's usually not going to go right for them all. 'We learnt that Wayne's horse stays very well and is a very straightforward, uncomplicated horse, we learnt Colin's horse could be a miler, so he was probably a mile out of his ground, and it's very possible that Ryan's horse is a mile-and-a-quarter horse, even though their races didn't go as well as they would have wanted. 'In the Derby every year you get fairly straightened out and sort out what you are or you aren't. The Derby and the Oaks are the races that expose the whole three-year-old generation, their flaws and their weaknesses and their strengths. You usually know where you're going after it.' Aidan O'Brien is interviewed by the media following Lambourn's Derby success (David Davies/The Jockey Club) On future plans for the winner, he said: 'The lads (owners) will make that decision and we'll see how he is when he gets back cantering in 10 days, but it looks like he's an Irish Derby horse and it looks like the Curragh would really suit him.' The trainer also praised the winning rider, who was winning his first Derby. 'Wayne is an unbelievable horseman and the most genuine, uncomplicated person you'll ever meet in your life,' O'Brien added. 'He's grateful for everything and expects nothing – that's Wayne totally. He' an unbelievable person to work with and an unbelievable rider, horseman and jockey all rolled into one.'
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Balding contemplating Commonwealth challenge for Jonquil
The Juddmonte-owned son of Lope De Vega has excelled in the early stages of the season winning the Greenham before finding just Henri Matisse too good in France. However, rather than a St James's Palace Stakes rematch with his ParisLongchamp conqueror, the Kingsclere handler is contemplating reverting to sprinting at the Royal meeting. 'Jonquil is really good since France and obviously we're hoping for Royal Ascot and he has a number of engagements there,' said Balding. 'I think the most likely at this stage is dropping him back to six for the Commonwealth Cup but it's all in the mix. I'd hope he has enough speed for that.' Balding is one of the main beneficiaries of the retirement of Sir Michael Stoute having inherited both Jonquil and the high-class Epsom-winning filly Formal and he added: 'I think if Sir Michael had the horses we've acquired, they would have done exactly the same as what they've done with us this year. 'They were well looked after and well prepared and we're very fortunate to have them.'
