
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


Powys County Times
30 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Elwateen backed to shine again after Oaks disappointment
Saeed bin Suroor is retaining plenty of belief in Elwateen, as he eyes dropping back in trip with his Betfred Oaks seventh. The Shadwell-owned daughter of Dubawi was supplemented into the fillies' Classic after finishing an eyecatching fourth in the 1000 Guineas, but in her first try at a mile and a half, she failed to stay as Aidan O'Brien's Minnie Hauk held off stablemate Whirl. Her trainer now believes a return to a mile will suit with the lightly-raced three-year-old who still has plenty of potential. 'I don't think the filly stayed and maybe we will drop her back to a mile,' said Bin Suroor. 'I think the ground was a little bit soft for her and it's the first time she had run on good to soft. 'We will take her home and she how she is and I think a mile and good ground will be good for her. 'There are plenty of races throughout the season. I think she is a very good filly, but maybe we get a confidence-booster into her in a Group Two or Group Three.'

Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
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 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.'