The Derby 2025 Preview – Runners Guide as 19 Colts Bid for Premier Classic Glory at Epsom

A big field of 19 runners race in The Derby of 2025 on Epsom Downs on Saturday, 7 June (3:30pm BST). Amongst the colts bidding for a spot in the horse racing history books are 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court, Aidan O’Brien pair Delacroix and The Lion In Winter, and Dante Stakes scorer Pride Of Arras.

Also in the line-up are two over from France, with Midak and New Ground plotting audacious cross-Channel raids on the Premier British Classic. Showers in the days immediately preceding the Derby Festival, which begins with The Oaks on Friday, means going on the slower side of good looks likely at Epsom.

Joining Delacroix and The Lion In Winter from Ballydoyle in the big race is Lambourn. Aidan O’Brien’s son Joseph has a runner too in Tennessee Stud. That is all of the Irish contingent taking part in the Epsom Derby of 2025.

Ralph Beckett has Stanhope Gardens, a horse he holds in some regard, as well as Pride Of Arras in the line-up. Godolphin run a couple too with Tornado Alert joining Ruling Court. John & Thady Gosden pair Damysus and Nightwalker, who ran in the Dante also take their chances.

In addition to these are a number of runners at big prices with horse racing bookies in the UK and Ireland. Charlie Johnston sends two down from Middleham for The Derby in 2025 in Green Storm and Lazy Griff. Al Wasl Storm, Nightime Dancer, Rogue Impact, Sea Scout and Tuscan Hills complete the line-up.

As with all big races, we ask our experts for their analysis of all the runners competing in the Epsom Derby of 2025. Read their profiles of the entire field below.

The Derby 2025 Runners Guide

1. Al Wasl Storm

Won Chester maiden over extended mile-and-a-half latest. Chased home Rogue Impact around Lingfield on the All-Weather before that. Owners no stranger to big price horses causing a shock in this race. Connections throw dice at the Epsom Derby of 2025 despite joint-most to find on official ratings.

2. Damysus

Placed in both the Sandown Classic Trial and Dante Stakes this spring. Good chance he’ll stay this bit further. Owners’ retained rider back aboard for the first time since Southwell novice success over 7f on the All-Weather as a juvenile. Proved he’s better than that since. Each-way player.

3. Delacroix

Picked up where he left off at end of last season with second and third career Group 3 wins in mile-and-a-quarter trials for The Derby in 2025 at Leopardstown. Doncaster Group 1 second form franked with winner a good third in Irish 2000 Guineas in meantime. Now looks the leading contender from Ballydoyle. Obvious claims for connections who always have a strong hand for this.

4. Green Storm

Second in Group races over a mile-and-a-quarter in the autumn including to Tennessee Stud at Saint-Cloud. Owner has used that race for Derby prospects before. Shaped as though needing his reappearance when fourth at Newmarket down in trip latest. Could have more to offer upped in distance. Interesting outsider.

5. Lambourn

Another favourite comes in! 🔥

Lambourn wins the Boodles Chester Vase Stakes 🥇#ITVRacing | @ChesterRaces pic.twitter.com/iVr6059GDH

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 7, 2025

Behind Tennessee Stud in the Beresford last autumn and chased home Delacroix on reappearance. Step forward from that when upped to extended mile-and-a-half and landing Group 3 Chester Vase latest. Another one to consider each-way for the Epsom Derby of 2025 from top Irish yard.

6. Lazy Griff

Group 3 success in France over nine furlongs on final start as a juvenile with runner-up landing Prix Saint-Alary this spring. No match for race-fit Lambourn on reappearance when runner-up in Chester Vase. Could take a step forward, but only won in fields with fewer than eight runners.

7. Midak

Midak remains unbeaten with a straight-forward success in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud!🇫🇷

Another progressive type for @GraffardRacing and @AgaKhanStuds! pic.twitter.com/Vug9tCfE4f

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 9, 2025

Won all three starts in France. Now comes over for The Derby in 2025 run in honour of his late owner-breeder. Small field victories on turf, but stays 11 furlongs and well on top in Saint-Cloud Group 3 latest. More interesting of the two cross-Channel raiders for this.

8. New Ground

Only third in Group 3 and Listed events in France this spring. Fading, but only beaten a length by French Derby runner-up Cualificar in Prix la Force. Nearest at finish and beaten similar margin over mile-and-a-quarter at Chantilly latest, but needs a step forward.

9. Nightime Dancer

All-Weather mile-and-a-half novice winner at Southwell on reappearance. Behind two Aidan O’Brien runners who don’t contest the Epsom Derby of 2025 in Lingfield Trial latest. Massive improvement required on that from and on ratings, for all he’s not officially the “worst” horse in the race.

10. Nightwalker

Third to Delacroix and Stanhope Gardens in Group 3 Autumn Stakes last season. Nearest at the finish in both runs this spring when third in Feilden Stakes on reappearance and fifth in Dante Stakes latest. Home in front of The Lion In Winter, but bit to find with Pride Of Arras and stable companion Damysus on York form.

11. Pride Of Arras

Lightly-raced colt who won a mile maiden at Sandown on his sole start as a juvenile, then took his form to a new level with Group 2 success on reappearance latest. Beat Damysus, Nightwalker and The Lion In Winter in a traditionally good trial. Catapulted self into contention for The Derby of 2025 and still unexposed.

12. Rogue Impact

All-Weather mile-and-a-half maiden winner around Lingfield beating Al Wasl Storm, but finished last of six in their Derby Trial behind Nightime Dancer latest. Difficult to make any real case for off the joint-lowest official rating in the field.

13. Ruling Court

Third to The Lion In Winter in the Acomb Stakes at York as a juvenile. Reversed that form with 2000 Guineas success after Listed victory in the Middle East on reappearance. Steps up half-a-mile in trip for Epsom Derby of 2025 with connections confident he’ll stay. Clear best on official figures.

14. Sea Scout

Dual mile-and-a-quarter winner including in the course trial for this on reappearance. Well-beaten eighth in the Dante since and drawn very high. Unlikely to produce 40/1 heroics from the spring on the big day at even bigger odds.

15. Stanhope Gardens

Beaten a neck by Delacroix in Autumn Stakes on final start as a juvenile. Won three-runner conditions race over a mile around Salisbury on belated reappearance just a fortnight before The Derby in 2025 latest. Obvious talent, but preparation looks rushed and market prefers stable’s other runner.

16. Tennessee Stud

Ended juvenile campaign with French Group 1 win at a mile-and-a-quarter. Third to Delacroix in Irish Derby Trial on reappearance. May have needed that and should strip fitter for it. Stamina on dam side of pedigree suggests he’s a lively outsider for this.

17. The Lion In Winter

Was winter favourite for the Epsom Derby of 2025 after impressive York Group 3 success during the Ebor Festival. Wasn’t ready to return in the 2000 Guineas, then looked undercooked for the Dante on belated reappearance. Finished sixth that day behind first, second and fifth who re-oppose. Needs to come on a bundle for it, though, and drawn in the car park. Something to prove for the first time in his career.

18. Tornado Alert

Effectively had pacemaker duties for Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas on turf debut and reappearance. Didn’t totally fade by any means and finished fourth, however. Could have similar duties in another Classic contest now.

19. Tuscan Hills

Listed mile winner on soft ground at the end of last season. Only seventh on reappearance in the Dante, finishing behind The Lion In Winter and others. Needs improvement on that here, but granddam won The Oaks, so has the right breeding.

Epsom Derby 2025 Shortlist & Verdict

The most-improved horse on what we’ve seen this spring is DELACROIX. Ryan Moore even deserts The Lion In Winter to ride him. While that one is on the comeback trail, Delacroix has less to prove stamina-wise than fellow market principal Ruling Court. Godolphin are confident about him staying the extra half-mile, so he can’t be discounted.

Nor can those placed behind Delacroix in Derby Trials in the Emerald Isle. Both Lambourn and Tennessete Stud are interesting at bigger prices. For the home team, the Dante winner Pride Of Arras might not be the one to take from that York race. Instead, Gosden pair Damysus and Nightwalker have claims upped further in trip.

As for the French duo, Midak would provide connections with a poignant success in a race the late Aga Khan won with the likes of Shergar, Sinndar and Harzand. Without wishing to disparage some of the bigger priced and social runners, there is plenty of deadwood in this field which punters can discount.

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael has worked in the sports betting industry for many years. Following football, horse racing and track and field athletics, he has covered the last three Olympic Games, World Cups and other major sporting events.

All posts by Michael Lee