Lambourn toughs it out to land Derby double
Sent off the 8-13 favourite to repeat his Epsom triumph, Ryan Moore tried to replicate Wayne Lordan's inspired front-running ride on the Surrey Downs, but met stern resistance from Ralph Beckett's second-string Sir Dinadan who refused to let Lambourn get his own way in front.
Moore stoked up the Epsom hero rounding the home turn and although Sir Dinadan's challenge began to wilt, it was Ballydoyle stablemate and King George V Stakes runner-up Serious Contender in the hands of Gavin Ryan who loomed large looking a huge threat.
The Ballydoyle pair began to duel inside the final furlong, but Lambourn proved a willing ally for Moore as his stamina and Classic quality came to the fore to win by three-quarters of a length and earn a place in the history books alongside his sire Australia and grand-sire Galileo who also did the Anglo-Irish Derby double.
LAMBOURN! 🌟
He's all heart to win the Irish Derby under another fine Ryan Moore ride, fighting off stablemate Serious Contender! 🏆 @RacingTV | @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/gIz4nZJ6hs
— British Champions Day (@Champions_Day) June 29, 2025
Serious Contender finished second at 28-1, with Charlie Johnston's Epsom runner-up Lazy Griff staying on for third at 14-1.
'He's a very straightforward horse that gets the trip well,' said O'Brien.
'Ryan was going to be happy if someone came with him as that keeps him focused. He's a little bit laid-back, a little bit lazy and you could see up the straight he was waiting all the time but that's him. Ryan gave him a lovely ride.
'Ryan thought he would keep pulling out and he was pricking his ears all the way.
'He could be a King George horse, he could be an Arc horse. He gets the trip well and is very sound and very genuine.
'We minded the second horse for a handicap in Ascot that we thought he couldn't get beat and then a horse came and beat us that was entered in the King George so it just goes to show what can happen.'
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South Wales Guardian
4 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Lazy Griff not guaranteed to run again before Leger bid
Charlie Johnston's charge has finished behind dual Derby winner Lambourn at Chester, Epsom and the Curragh this season and may yet have to come up against him at Doncaster. His third in the Irish Derby was the opposite of his runner-up finish at Epsom, where he was handy throughout, as this time he was outpaced before flying home to finish third. 'It was quicker ground. William (Buick) jumped to go forward and he just couldn't go the early pace on that ground,' said Mike Prince of owners Middleham Park Racing. 'He travelled sweetly at Epsom, but he just couldn't lie up with them and it wasn't until he hit the rising ground that he absolutely flew home. So the Derby form was upheld, but it happened in a very different way. 'It was a strange race to watch as coming round the bend Lambourn looked in trouble, but I think he fools you as that's his racing style, he's just tough and reality has shown he is a very good horse. 'What we do next is an interesting one as obviously the St Leger is his main target for the rest of the season. We're coming into the height of summer and Charlie reiterated he wouldn't want to run him on fast ground again. 'He's in the Grosser Preis von Berlin on August 10 which is normally run on good ground so if we did have a run that would be the most likely as the Great Voltigeur is a bit close to Doncaster. But we're not adamant that he needs to run again as he's done Chester, Epsom and the Curragh which is tight enough with three tough races. 'The Leger is definitely his number one target and if he runs before then we'll see. William said afterwards that his Derby run was no fluke and he's a proper Group One horse.'
South Wales Argus
4 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Lazy Griff not guaranteed to run again before Leger bid
Charlie Johnston's charge has finished behind dual Derby winner Lambourn at Chester, Epsom and the Curragh this season and may yet have to come up against him at Doncaster. His third in the Irish Derby was the opposite of his runner-up finish at Epsom, where he was handy throughout, as this time he was outpaced before flying home to finish third. 'It was quicker ground. William (Buick) jumped to go forward and he just couldn't go the early pace on that ground,' said Mike Prince of owners Middleham Park Racing. 'He travelled sweetly at Epsom, but he just couldn't lie up with them and it wasn't until he hit the rising ground that he absolutely flew home. So the Derby form was upheld, but it happened in a very different way. 'It was a strange race to watch as coming round the bend Lambourn looked in trouble, but I think he fools you as that's his racing style, he's just tough and reality has shown he is a very good horse. 'What we do next is an interesting one as obviously the St Leger is his main target for the rest of the season. We're coming into the height of summer and Charlie reiterated he wouldn't want to run him on fast ground again. 'He's in the Grosser Preis von Berlin on August 10 which is normally run on good ground so if we did have a run that would be the most likely as the Great Voltigeur is a bit close to Doncaster. But we're not adamant that he needs to run again as he's done Chester, Epsom and the Curragh which is tight enough with three tough races. 'The Leger is definitely his number one target and if he runs before then we'll see. William said afterwards that his Derby run was no fluke and he's a proper Group One horse.'
Glasgow Times
4 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Lazy Griff not guaranteed to run again before Leger bid
Charlie Johnston's charge has finished behind dual Derby winner Lambourn at Chester, Epsom and the Curragh this season and may yet have to come up against him at Doncaster. His third in the Irish Derby was the opposite of his runner-up finish at Epsom, where he was handy throughout, as this time he was outpaced before flying home to finish third. 'It was quicker ground. William (Buick) jumped to go forward and he just couldn't go the early pace on that ground,' said Mike Prince of owners Middleham Park Racing. 'He travelled sweetly at Epsom, but he just couldn't lie up with them and it wasn't until he hit the rising ground that he absolutely flew home. So the Derby form was upheld, but it happened in a very different way. 'It was a strange race to watch as coming round the bend Lambourn looked in trouble, but I think he fools you as that's his racing style, he's just tough and reality has shown he is a very good horse. 'What we do next is an interesting one as obviously the St Leger is his main target for the rest of the season. We're coming into the height of summer and Charlie reiterated he wouldn't want to run him on fast ground again. 'He's in the Grosser Preis von Berlin on August 10 which is normally run on good ground so if we did have a run that would be the most likely as the Great Voltigeur is a bit close to Doncaster. But we're not adamant that he needs to run again as he's done Chester, Epsom and the Curragh which is tight enough with three tough races. 'The Leger is definitely his number one target and if he runs before then we'll see. William said afterwards that his Derby run was no fluke and he's a proper Group One horse.'
