Epsom Derby Runner-by-Runner Guide 2025 and Star Ratings For 246th Renewal

The final entries for the biggest flat race in the UK are out – with 19 horses heading to post. You can see which horses made the final line-up with our Epsom Derby runners guide, plus star-ratings and the all-important DRAW ahead of the big Classic on Saturday June 7th. 

These 2025 Epsom Derby runners are headed by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Delacroix, who many feel has had a trouble-free preparation with two solid wins at Leopardstown this season.

While, if you are looking for the ‘Derby Story’ – the French raider Midak, who was supplemented for £75,000, will run for the Aga Khan Studs, who would be a fitting winner with this year’s race named in honour of His Highness Aga Khan IV.

Epsom Derby Runner-by-Runner Guide 2025: 19 Horses Confirmed For 246th Renewal 

1. AL WASL STORM 

Comment: One of the big outsiders but will at least head here full of confidence after a win at Chester over 1m 4 1/2f, so we know he stays the trip. That, however, was only in a maiden so this is a big step up in grade. Would be a huge shock

Star Rating: ⭐

2. DAMYSUS 

Comment: Of those at slightly bigger prices with a live chance. Number two on the Epsom Derby runners list was last seen running on to take second in the Dante Stakes at York – with only Pride Of Arras ahead of him. Should have more to come with this only being his fourth start and the longer trip is also taken to eke out more. The Gosden camp have won the Derby twice in 1997 (Benny the Dip) and 2015 (Golden Horn). Fair each-way option

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

3. DELACROIX

Comment: Expected to go off as the 2025 Derby favourite and one of the big hopes for top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, who has won this famous race 10 times. Has a trouble-free build-up to the race with top trial wins at Leopardstown and looks the sort to improve again over this longer trip. Sure to be a big player and looks the one with the least questions to answer. He will also be the Ryan Moore Derby ride in 2025, which will further add to his appeal. Moore has won the last two runnings of the Epsom Derby and four in total.

He’ll be looking to become the first jockey to win the race three years in a row since the 1920’s and with Moore and O’Brien landing Friday’s Oaks is sure to go off favourite. Those against him might look to his breeding – as the sire Dubawi is yet to produce a Epsom Derby winner.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

4. GREEN STORM 

Comment: One of the more exposed runners in the field with seven career outings. But has only won one of those and that came in a Yarmouth maiden which is a million miles away from Epsom Derby form. Plenty to find.

Star Rating: ⭐

5. LAMBOURN

Comment: Another from the powerful Aidan O’Brien yard and impressed many when winning the Chester Vase (1m 4 1/2f) – with Lazy Griff in second. The last horse to win that race and take the Derby was Ruler Of The World, who was also trained by O’Brien. This past winner was also drawn in 10. Before that is was the mighty Shergar in 1981 who won both races. We know he stays but does have 2 1/4 lengths to make up on Delacroix on their running at Leopardstown in March. According to the Epsom Derby draw stats – he’s also been handed one of the best gates (10) as since stalls were introduced in 1967 this draw has seen the most wins (11). Each-way claims.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

6. LAZY GRIFF

Comment: Last seen running second to Lambourn in the Chester Vase and on that evidence needs to find more. Likely front-runner in the race – but also unlikely to stay there.

Star Rating: ⭐

7. MIDAK

Comment: Falls into the ‘could be anything’ category after three wins in France. This is a step up but was supplemented for £75k and runs for the Aga Khan Stud and would be a poignant winner with the race named in honour of His Highness Aga Khan VI this year.  Each-way possibilities as we know he stays and likes a bit of cut.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

8. NEW GROUND 

Comment: French raider that comes here with two recent thirds. These came at G3 and Listed level too, so more needed. But is proven on soft ground if more rain comes.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐

9. NIGHTIME DANCER 

Comment: Veteran rider Jamie Spencer is still looking for this first Derby winner – but he’s unlikely to find it here. Rated 98, which is 23lbs less than the top-rated Ruling Court and was a well-beaten third in the Lingfield Derby Trial last time. Much more needed.

Star Rating: ⭐

10. NIGHTWALKER

Comment: Another from the Gosden team and not without a squeak. Was only beaten 3 1/2 lengths in the Dante Stakes last time out (watch below, Pride Of Arras) – keeping on well. This suggests the longer trip will suit and would be looking to give Juddmonte their first Derby winner since Workforce, who was also beaten in the Dante. Each-way claims.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

11. PRIDE OF ARRAS

Comment: Won the Dante in impressive fashion – which has arguably been the best Derby Trial in recent times. Desert Crown followed up in 2022 and Golden Horn before him in 2015. There have been eleven Dante Stakes winners in total to also win the Derby. That was only his second career run too, so should have more to come and if trained by Gosden, O’Brien or Godolphin, you feel he’d be even shorter in the betting. Big chance if handling the track to give Arc-winning trainer Ralph Beckett his first Epsom Derby. But since the stalls were introduced in 1967 we’ve not seen a winner from gate 16.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

12. ROGUE IMPACT 

Comment: Another of the big Epsom Derby runners outsiders in the race and after coming a dire 6th in the Lingfield Derby Trial a big step forward is needed.

Star Rating: ⭐

13. RULING COURT 

Comment: 2000 Guineas winner that will be looking to become the first to add the Derby since Sea The Stars in 2009. If he can win then he’d also keep his Triple Crown dreams alive and could head to the St Leger in September. But before that needs to prove he can stay this longer trip. Looking to give Godolphin their third Derby win since 2018 after wins with Masar and Adayar, plus a third for trainer Charlie Appleby. Being by US Triple Crown winner Justify, then there is hope of lasting out the trip – last year’s Derby winner City Of Troy was also by Justify. Big chance on form (if he can stay). The worry is the ground – with  his trainer Charlie Appleby having concerns if the ground gets soft. As a result he’s been on the drift in the betting.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

14. SEA SCOUT 

Comment: The only proven course winner in the field and that will be a plus. That came in the Derby Trial at Epsom in April but has since run 8th in the Dante so has ground to make up with several of those ahead of him.

Star Rating: ⭐

15. STANHOPE GARDENS 

Comment: Was rated earlier in the season by Ralph Beckett as his one of this Epsom Derby runners – but after Pride Of Arras won the Dante the betting suggest otherwise. This colt has still done little wrong though and could be going under the radar. Was only a neck behind likely favourite Delacroix last season in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket and returned this season with an easy win at Salisbury. Like many others is stepping up in trip – 1m to 1m4f, but breeding suggests there could be more to come over further. Live each-way claims – But since the stalls were introduced in 1967 we’ve not seen a winner from gate 2.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

16. TENNESSE STUD

Comment: Third to Delacroix at Leopardstown in May in the Derby Trial – beaten almost seven lengths. Therefore, has a lot of ground to make up. However, that was only his first run of the season – whereas Delacroix had already had a run. While last season was a Group One winner in France over 1m2f. Trained by Joseph O’Brien, who is yet to win this race as a trainer – but has ridden two Derby winners (Australia 2014 and Camelot 2012). He’s the only G1 winning juvenile in the race so not with place claims from those at bigger prices.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

17. THE LION IN WINTER

Comment: Had been the leading fancy over the winter after impressing last season with wins at the Curragh and York. Blotted his copybook though with a below-par return run in the Dante Stakes (6th). His trainer Aidan O’Brien expects him to improve for that run though and being by former Derby winner Sea The Stars then the step up in trip looks a big plus. These O’Brien horses have bounced back in the past, so it would be no shock if he’s the latest.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

18. TORNADO ALERT 

Comment: Top rider Oisin Murphy, who is looking for his first Derby win, rides – but this Godolphin Epsom Derby runner has 4 1/2 lengths to find on Ruling Court based on their 2000 Guineas run. On a plus has only had three career runs and could have more to come. Saeed Bin Suroor’s last Derby win came in 1995 with Lammtarra. But since the stalls were introduced in 1967 we’ve not seen a winner from gate 11.

Star Rating: ⭐

19. TUSCAN HILLS 

Comment: Runs for Amo Racing, who had another of their Epsom Derby runners King Of Steel run second in 2023. This, however, is another that ran down the field in the Dante (7th) so on that run has plenty to find.

Star Rating: ⭐

What Time Is The Epsom Derby 2025?

📅Date: Saturday 7th June 2025
⌚Time: 3:30pm
🏇Racecourse: Epsom Downs
💷Winner: £850,650
📺 TV: ITV/RTV

How To Watch The 2025 Epsom Derby 

The 2025 Epsom Derby will also be shown LIVE on the free-to-air channel on ITV Racing.

This year’s race will be run at 3:30pm – which will be the fifth race on a jam-packed eight-race card at Epsom on Saturday.

Prior to the Derby, the Epsom Oaks is also run at the two-day meeting on the Friday.

In addition to the Derby being shown LIVE on ITV Racing, the race can also be seen on subscription channel RacingTV.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien Looking For His Eleventh Epsom Derby Win

Ahead of the biggest flat race on the calendar, many people ask how many times has Aidan O’Brien won the Epsom Derby?

Well, the answer is TEN.

The Ballydoyle maestro has racked up this impressive haul between 2001 and 2024 – with his first being Galileo in 2001.

Since then Galileo has also gone onto sire five more Epsom Derby winners and four more for O’Brien – Ruler Of The World, Australia, Anthony Van Dyck and Serpentine. So, really without Galileo betting the Derby ball rolling for O’Brien – he’d have a lot less winners.

Aidan O’Brien is also the winning-most trainer in Derby – thanks to these ten winners.

Plus, with another strong hand in 2025, then there is every chance his winning record in the most famous flat race in the world will continue to rise.

This year Aidan O’Brien’s Epsom Derby runners will be – Delacroix, The Lion In Winter and Lambourn.

Aidan O’Brien Epsom Derby Winners 

Epsom Derby Winners (Last 10 Years)

WATCH: City Of Troy Winning The 2024 Epsom Derby