Benvenuto Cellini heads the 14 declarations for the Betfred Derby as Aidan O’Brien launches a four-strong assault in search of a record-extending 12th success in the Epsom classic.
The master of Ballydoyle has proved unbeatable on the Surrey Downs in recent years with this year’s contingent attempting to make it four-in-a-row for the Irishman after Auguste Rodin (2023), City Of Troy (2024) and Lambourn’s (2025) respective triumphs.
Chester Vase winner Benvenuto Cellini will be joined by stablemates Pierre Bonnard, Action and Christmas Day, with Pierre Bonnard held in the highest regard despite yet to strike this term and the latter pair arriving having finished second and third respectively in the Dante.
The winner at York that day was Item, who is one of two in the race for Andrew Balding alongside A Taste Of Glory, and is regarded by the bookmakers as the most likely challenger to the Ballydoyle-trained favourite having enhanced his unbeaten record on the Knavesmire.
William Haggas’ Maltese Cross made it two from two for the year when edging out Ralph Beckett’s Bay Of Brilliance and will lock horns again on the Surrey Downs, with Charlie Johnston’s Ancient Egypt another British-trained contender having impressed in the Newmarket Stakes.
Also heading to Epsom on a high is Joseph O’Brien’s James J Braddock who having downed the aforementioned Pierre Bonnard at Leopardstown, will seek to land another telling blow in a race his handler won twice as a jockey aboard Camelot (2012) and Australia (2014).
Jane Chapple-Hyam and Faye Bramley will both try to become the first female trainer to win the Derby when saddling Balzac and Rebel Rocker respectively, with the field completed by Karl Burke’s 4.3million guineas yearling Poker and Richard Hannon’s Alderman, who both head into the race as maidens.
4.00 Betfred Derby (Group 1) 1m 4f 6yd
Weights: Colts.............9st 2lb; fillies…8st 13lb
1 Action (IRE) 3 9 2 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien Ireland
2 Alderman 3 9 2 Mrs J. Wood Richard Hannon Pat Dobbs
3 Ancient Egypt (IRE) 3 9 2 Amo Racing Limited Charlie Johnston David Egan
4 A Taste of Glory (GER) 3 9 2 Ahmad Al Shaikh Andrew Balding Jamie Spencer
5 Balzac (GER) 3 9 2 Mrs Jane Chapple-Hyam Jane Chapple-Hyam Silvestre De Sousa
6 Bay of Brilliance 3 9 2 Valmont Ralph Beckett Hector Crouch
7 Benvenuto Cellini (IRE) 3 9 2 Brant/Magnier/Tabor/Smith/Westerberg Aidan O'Brien Ireland
8 Christmas Day (IRE) 3 9 2 Magnier/Tabor/Smith/Westerberg/Brant Aidan O'Brien Ireland
9 Item 3 9 2 Juddmonte Andrew Balding Colin Keane
10 James J Braddock 3 9 2 Mr Kevin Blake Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Dylan Browne McMonagle
11 Maltese Cross (FR) 3 9 2 Mr George Waud William Haggas Tom Marquand
12 Pierre Bonnard (IRE) 3 9 2 Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg Aidan O'Brien Ireland
13 Poker (IRE) 3 9 2 Amo Racing Limited K. R. Burke Rowan Scott
14 Rebel Rocker 3 9 2 Miss Jennifer Dorey Faye Bramley Rob Hornby
Impressive Cheshire Oaks winner Amelia Earhart will spearhead Aidan O’Brien’s search for a 12th win in the Betfred Oaks after the Ballydoyle handler took out Precise at the final declaration stage.
O’Brien, who first won the race in 1998 with Shahtoush, has the Chester winner at the head of a three-pronged assault as nine were declared for the second fillies’ classic of the season.
The master of Ballydoyle has won the race 11 times and has also mopped up seven of the last 11 renewals including with Minnie Hauk in last year’s running.
Cameo, the winner of the Lingfield Oaks Trial, and Sugar Island will join the Amelia Earhart in Friday’s race and were among four Irish raiders with Joseph O’Brien’s Thundering On – a wide-margin winner of the Salsabil Stakes at Navan last time out – completing the quartet.
Ralph Beckett provides three of the home contingent with Wathnan Racing’s A La Prochaine, K Sarra and On Message in a bid to add to his two previous wins in the race with Look Here (2008) and Talent (2013).
While Charlie Johnston’s 1000 Guineas third Venetian Lace adds heft to the home defence which also includes John and Thady Gosden’s Musidora winner Legacy Link, set to be ridden by Juddmonte’s retained rider Colin Keane.
Amelia Earhart heads the betting after charging to a two-length triumph at Chester last month. Legacy Link and fellow Irish challenger Thundering On are next best in the market.
4.00 Betfred Oaks (Group 1) 1m 4f 6yd
1 (2) A La Prochaine (FR) 3 9 2 Wathnan Racing Ralph Beckett James Doyle
2 (4) Amelia Earhart (IRE) h,bl 3 9 2 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith Aidan O'Brien Ireland
3 (9) Cameo (IRE) 3 9 2 M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs J Magnier/Westerberg Aidan O'Brien Ireland
4 (6) K Sarra 3 9 2 Mrs David Aykroyd Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan
5 (1) Legacy Link 3 9 2 Juddmonte John & Thady Gosden Colin Keane
6 (7) On Message 3 9 2 The Eclipse Partnership Ralph Beckett Hector Crouch
7 (3) Sugar Island (IRE) 3 9 2 Westerberg/Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith Aidan O'Brien Ireland
8 (5) Thundering On 3 9 2 Mr Shapoor Mistry Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Dylan Browne McMonagle
9 (8) Venetian Lace (IRE) 3 9 2 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Charlie Johnston William Buick