IN an open-looking edition of the Derby - with the biggest field since Kris Kin’s win in the race back in 2003 - punters might well put their faith in the classic’s most successful trainer in history, especially when he has three significant contenders in the mix.

Nobody has won the Betfred Derby more often than Aidan O’Brien’s whopping 10 victories, and the trio of Delacroix, The Lion In Winter and Lambourn are being relied on to capture the prize for Ballydoyle in a third consecutive year.

Early prices from bookmakers made it 4/6 that Ryan Moore would ride Delacroix and 11/10 he’d partner The Lion In Winter, but O’Brien later suggested the clear choice had long looked like the dual Derby Trial winner from Leopardstown.

“It was always going to be hard for Ryan not to ride Delacroix,” said O’Brien.

“He had two lovely runs in the two trials, which we always try to go to. He handles an ease in the ground, seemed to get a mile and a quarter well even though the pace wasn’t too fast. He’s a straightforward horse and has a nice draw [in stall 14]. He is a big, powerful type and we feel he has been going the right way every week.”

On whether stamina is a concern for the Dubawi colt, O’Brien told Racing TV: “You’re never sure until you do it. His half-sister by Galileo nearly got two miles and this horse is by Dubawi, so there’s a good chance. He’s classy but even as a two-year-old we viewed him as a Futurity Trophy horse who could develop into a Derby horse.”

The Lion In Winter will bid to provide Colin Keane with a first British classic success, though considerable improvement is required from what he showed on his Dante Stakes comeback. His two-year-old form does look high class, though, having beaten Ruling Court at York last season.

“We think he has made good progress since the Dante, which we thought he would as he was only just ready for a racecourse gallop when he went to the Dante,” said O’Brien.

“Ryan was happy with how he travelled in the Dante – he just got a bit chopped when he was getting ready to challenge. Ryan just nursed him after that and he wasn’t beaten far for third in the end.

“We couldn’t have asked for any more from him since York.”

Ballydoyle outsiders have caused upsets here down the years and Chester Vase scorer Lambourn could be a lively value pick for Wayne Lordan. O’Brien said: “He had a lovely run first time behind Delacroix [in the Ballysax Stakes] and then won at Chester. He looks like he’ll stay further, is genuine, tough, straightforward and well balanced.

“I think he’s got a lovely draw in the middle of them [in stall 10], and we think he’s improved again.”

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Ruling Court

“We have always felt that the 2000 Guineas is one of the best trials for the Derby, and Ruling Court has trained well since winning at Newmarket. We wouldn’t want the ground to get too soft, so any significant amount of rain would be a negative. We won’t know if he truly gets a mile and a half until we try, but he gives us all the indications that he should get the trip. We know that he is the class horse in the field, which helps, and being able to travel around Epsom is probably more important than being a proper mile-and-a-half horse. We can have no complaints with being drawn seven and are very pleased with how his preparation has gone.”

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Pride Of Arras and Stanhope Gardens

“Pride Of Arras has trained well since the Dante and worked well last week. I think he has tightened up for the Dante and is on good terms with himself. We are going there with our best foot forward, that’s for sure. He’s a very well-balanced horse and his half-sister and half-brother both won around Epsom, so that gives us significant encouragement as well. The ground is not an issue – he has a soft ground pedigree and it has been a surprise to us that he handles fast ground as well as he does.

“Going into the winter, I always thought Stanhope Gardens was the horse most likely to show up in the Derby. That form with Delacroix is obviously very good and he was very inexperienced that day [at Newmarket] – it was only his third start, he had only been around Beverley with a good run behind Ruling Court prior to that. He is a very well-balanced horse and very light on his feet. I have felt it likely that he will be suited by Epsom. He is a very straightforward customer. The reason he didn’t make a trial is that he galloped away from home in mid-April and pulled a muscle at the back of his ribs. We were unable to train him for two weeks so he has done pretty well to get here.”

Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs, owner of Midak

“He’s definitely a big horse improving with his races and will definitely get the trip. We’re not sure on his form lines and how it stacks up, but all he can do is win and he’s won every start. Mickael Barzalona [jockey] thinks he will handle the track because he’s well balanced but you never know until they get there. We would be very happy to see him finish in the first three or even first five, but he is a bit of an unknown quantity and he does everything easily at home.”

Joseph O’Brien, trainer of Tennessee Stud

“We were happy enough his comeback run behind Delacroix at Leopardstown [when third]. It was a very messy race; they really went slow and sprinted up the straight, which really wouldn’t have suited him. He had an extended break after a tough race in France at the end of last year, so we very much had a marker on the Derby - Leopardstown was a starting point. We feel like he’s prepared well in the last few weeks for Epsom.

“He has form on soft and better ground, so whatever conditions are should be fine. We’re happy with his draw [in stall 12]. It’s a big field and we’ll need luck in running. He’s earned his spot here as a Group 1 winner and his form is with the right horses. We’d like to think he’s a live contender.”

James Doyle, rider of Damysus

“He seems to be on an upward trajectory, improving with each run. He gave a good show in the Dante [when second] and a few things probably worked against him on the day. His work since has been good. He’s been for a look around Epsom already and seemed to handle the track well, even if it wasn’t for a strenuous exercise. All signs are positive. We’ll need luck in a big field.”

Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of Tornado Alert

“Tornado Alert ran well in the 2000 Guineas [when fourth] and came out of the race in good form. Oisin Murphy came and rode him on Wednesday, and he looks a nice, relaxed horse going into the race. I think a mile and a half around Epsom is going to suit. He’s a nice size of a horse and looks as though he will handle the track well.”

Barry Mahon, European racing manager to Juddmonte, owners of New Ground

“Henri [Devin, trainer] has always been very, very high on him. He won his first two starts as a two-year-old and this year he’s run two solid races in French Derby trials that were very slowly run, tactical affairs over an inadequate trip. We always felt a mile and a half with a good pace would see the best of him. He’s an outsider, he needs to improve again but we feel the race conditions will bring out the best in him and whether that’s good enough or not, we’ll find out” (quote from Nick Luck Daily Podcast).

Most successful draw

No starting gate has produced more Derby winners than stall 10, with 11 winners since 1967 (most recently Auguste Rodin in 2023). Lambourn is drawn in 10 this year. The next most successful stall is 5 - Nightwalker’s starting position today - on six winners.

Least successful draw

No horse drawn 2, 11, 16 or 20 has won the Derby since the introduction of starting stalls in 1967. Horses beginning from these positions this year are Stanhope Gardens, Tornado Alert and Pride Of Arras (stall 20 not in use).

Vive la France

There have been 10 French-trained winners of the Derby, but Pour Moi (2011) is the only one since Empery in 1976.