2025 Betfred Derby at Epsom: Who’s Got the Legs, the Class – and the Bottle to Conquer the Downs?
📅 Date: Saturday 7 June 2025
🕞 Time: 3:30pm
📍 Location: Epsom Downs Racecourse
🎥 Live on: ITV & Racing TV
We’re just days away from the blue riband of British Flat racing – the 2025 Betfred Derby – and the anticipation is simmering like a pot of tea left on the hob. The five-day entries have left us with 20 colts still daring to dream of Derby glory, but as always, only one will gallop into racing immortality.
Since the final major trial – the Dante at York – market sentiment has narrowed sharply around four main players. They’re the horses who’ve been nibbled, backed, and debated in pubs and paddocks across the land. But which of these will rise to the occasion on one of the sport’s most unique stages?
Pour yourself a cuppa (or something stronger) and settle in as we dissect the good, the bad, and the potentially glorious – with a knowing nod to William Hill, who are offering Bet £10 and Get £30 in free bets. Because let’s be honest, who doesn’t like a flutter on the great guessing game that is the Derby?
Delacroix – Can the Artful Colt Paint a Masterpiece?
👨🏫 Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
📊 Form: 21212-11
💷 Best Odds: 11/4
Delacroix has rather blossomed from his two-year-old self, who lost more than he won, into the slick, progressive customer we see today. His two victories at Leopardstown this term – the Ballysax Stakes and the Derby Trial – have confirmed he’s now very much the apple of Ballydoyle’s eye. That Ballysax form has aged nicely too, with Lambourn and Puppet Master both emerging from that scrap to win trials of their own.
More impressive, perhaps, was the way he quickened past Purview like a knife through tepid butter last time out. He now sits atop the market, especially with murmurs suggesting stable jockey Ryan Moore has pledged his allegiance. He looks the pick of O’Brien’s powerful bunch – and history tells us, that’s a pretty handy place to be.
Still, it’s not all roses and racing stripes. He suffered three defeats from five attempts last season – albeit one was a head-bobber in the Group 1 Futurity. And let’s not ignore the slightly ominous stat: it’s been over two decades since the winner of the Leopardstown Derby Trial (or even a runner from it) went on to claim the Derby. Add in the curious case of Dubawi – who, for all his stud success, still hasn’t sired a Derby winner – and a few cracks begin to show.
Ruling Court – The King in Waiting or a Pretender to the Throne?
👨🏫 Trainer: Charlie Appleby
📊 Form: 13-11
💷 Best Odds: 4/1
This one struts into the Derby with more swagger than most, having scalped the 2,000 Guineas last month. The highest-rated runner in the field, Ruling Court showcased class and composure to repel the late thrust of Field Of Gold, a result that has aged like a fine claret thanks to the runner-up’s Irish Guineas demolition since.
The bloodlines are ripe with promise too. His sire, Justify, was no stranger to Triple Crown heroics, and also gave us last year’s Derby champ City Of Troy. So it’s not a stretch to think a mile and a half may come naturally – even if we haven’t seen it yet.
And that, dear reader, is the rub. Ruling Court hasn’t ventured beyond a mile. Yes, he looked strong in the finish at Newmarket, but stepping up to the Epsom distance is no small ask. Not to mention, some still grumble that Field Of Gold might’ve edged him with a clearer run. Plus, let’s not forget his juvenile season – he was turned over by both The Lion In Winter and Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Acomb. A case of raw talent, now refined? Or a few ghosts still lurking?
Pride Of Arras – Quiet Start, Big Noise Now?
👨🏫 Trainer: Ralph Beckett
📊 Form: 1-1
💷 Best Odds: 5/1
Inexperience is rarely seen as a positive heading into Epsom, but Pride Of Arras is doing his best to buck that trend. With just two starts under his belt, this lad turned heads in the Dante, slicing through a congested field to win with a touch of class. There was a moment when it looked like a blanket finish might be on the cards – but he found more than most and stretched clear when it mattered.
Beckett’s no stranger to preparing a Derby horse, and he rates this one quicker than Westover – who was second at Epsom before storming to Irish Derby success. High praise indeed.
So, what’s the catch? Well, the Dante wasn’t run at anything like a Derby gallop, and the whole field finished within sniffing distance of each other. That RPR of 114 is respectable, but it’s the second lowest for a Dante winner in the past decade. And while his sire New Bay was smart, his dam’s family is more National Hunt than Flat flair – several of his relatives were last seen lumping over hurdles in January. The class is there, but the depth of pedigree might raise a few eyebrows.
The Lion In Winter – Fierce Juvenile, Frosty Comeback?
👨🏫 Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
📊 Form: 11-6
💷 Best Odds: 7/1
Ah yes, The Lion In Winter. The colt who roared onto the scene last year like a future superstar, only to leave tongues wagging and wallets wounded in his Dante flop. His York win as a two-year-old remains one of the sharpest pieces of juvenile form on offer, having put both Wimbledon Hawkeye and Ruling Court in their place with little fuss.
Bred for the big time, his Sea The Stars/12-furlong winning dam combo screams Epsom. But his reappearance left something to be desired – he pulled harder than a tug-of-war champion and eventually faded to sixth in the Dante. That said, if anyone can bounce a horse back into form after a murky return, it’s O’Brien. Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy both stunk the place out pre-Derby and still went on to glory.
And yet, doubts remain. There’ve been missed entries, a bruised foot, and the kind of form swings that make rollercoasters look steady. He was momentarily backed into favouritism after the Dante, before drifting like a party balloon into double figures. The vibes, let’s say, are mixed.
And the Rest… Could There Be a Surprise Package in the Pack?
Now, the Derby isn’t just a four-horse parade. With 20 still in contention and the nature of Epsom being what it is – unpredictable, testing, gloriously bonkers – there’s every chance something unexpected rumbles up the straight to throw the forecast into chaos.
Damysus, runner-up in the Dante and one of our fanciers this weekend, shaped as if the Derby trip might suit even more. He’s long-striding and learning with every run, so don’t be surprised if he’s still in the mix as they hit the furlong pole.
Then there’s Midak, unbeaten and mysterious. Supplemented into the race earlier this week, he won the same trial in France that Pour Moi claimed before his 2011 Derby triumph. That alone might make some take notice – and if you’ve got a free bet bonus burning a hole in your pocket, he’s certainly worth a glance.
Stanhope Gardens has been prepped in almost total obscurity, beating just two rivals at Salisbury in a gentle stroll. But trainer Ralph Beckett has made it clear this one was earmarked for Epsom long ago, so don’t be too quick to laugh it off.
Nightwalker, who finished behind Damysus in the Dante, has shown gradual improvement with each run and could be one for a place if the pace collapses.
As for Tornado Alert, his fourth in the 2,000 Guineas wasn’t a bad effort considering it was just his third career start – and first on turf. If he handles the step up in trip, there might be something bubbling under the radar.
Aidan O’Brien, as ever, throws plenty of darts – Lambourn and Puppet Master included. They’ve both bagged trials (Chester and Lingfield respectively), and it’s worth noting that O’Brien’s last five Derby winners weren’t necessarily the shortest-priced in his own battalion. Punters beware.
Elsewhere, Tuscan Hills, Al Wasl Storm and Green Storm represent the bold brigade, often underestimated but occasionally spectacular. Ahmad Al Shaikh, in particular, has a knack for launching outsiders who go on to shake up the betting. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s grinned his way into the winner’s enclosure against the odds.
Final Word: Who’s Your Derby Fancy?
The 2025 Betfred Derby is shaping up to be another cracking renewal – full of intrigue, unanswered questions, and plot twists worthy of a Netflix drama. Whether you’re backing form, faith, or sheer gut feeling, now’s the time to get your bets in.
Fancy a flutter? Leading bookmaker William Hill is offering Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets – perfect for splitting across a main fancy, a wild outsider, and maybe even a cheeky reverse forecast.
So… will Delacroix deliver? Can Ruling Court prove his Guineas form holds water over the classic trip? Will Pride Of Arras continue his steep ascent? Or could The Lion In Winter remember how to roar?
Settle in. Epsom awaits.
