15:30 Epsom Downs

Saturday 7 June 2025

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:3016:1517:0017:40

Betfred Derby (In Honour Of His Highness Aga Khan IV) (Group 1)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 2m 38.50s

(13)

Al Wasl Storm²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 86| D

50/1

Getting sharper by the run, making all in Chester maiden over this trip last month. True test here will suit him better and while he has tons to find his owner has had a number of horses excel themselves - often at huge odds - in this in recent years.

Form: 721

(15)

Damysus²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 111

16/1

Frankel colt and AW debut winner, still very raw but continuing to improve all the time, keeping on for second behind Pride of Arras in the Dante 3 weeks ago. Will stay this trip and even better probably still to come as he matures. Could run a huge race if he takes to the track.

Form: 1-32

(14)

Delacroix²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 116| BF

2/1

By Dubawi, who has a poor record with his runners in this, but otherwise he has a very likeable profile and powered away at the finish when landing the odds in the Leopardstown Trial 4 weeks ago. Well-balanced sort who should stay and take to the track, and the pick of Ryan Moore. Huge player.

Form: 1212-11

(8)

Green Storm⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Loughnane| T: C Johnston| OR: 107

50/1

Yarmouth 2-y-o maiden winner who ran well in pattern races in the autumn but overdid things in front on his return in the Feilden at Newmarket. Bred to stay but this is surely a bridge too far.

Form: 22122-4

(10)

Lambourn³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 109| D

13/2

Son of Australia chased home stablemate Delacroix on his return at Leopardstown before resuming winning ways in the Chester Vase, staying on strongly. Can improve further and with stamina proven, looks very much the type to go well in this. 1 of 3 runners for Coolmore.

Form: 115-21

(3)

Lazy Griff³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: C Soumillon| T: C Johnston| OR: 105

50/1

Son of Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist. Dual winner at 2 yrs and looked all stamina as he improved again when chasing home Lambourn in the Chester Vase on last month's return. Lots more needed still.

Form: 20131-2

(4)

Midak²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: M Barzalona| T: F Graffard| OR: 107

9/1

Progressive son of Footstepsinthesand and 1 of only 2 unbeaten colts in the field, going clear of a pair of last time out winners under another front-running ride in Saint-Cloud Group 3 last month. Supplemented (race being run in honour of his late owner) and will stay. Interesting.

Form: 111

(17)

New Ground³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Alexis Pouchin| T: H F Devin| OR: 107

50/1

Typically well-bred Juddmonte colt who won both starts as a juvenile and has improved in defeat up in class this spring, finishing well from off the pace and again not beaten far at Chantilly 5 weeks ago. Supplemented and should stay but has plenty to find.

Form: 11-33

(9)

Nightime Dancer²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: R Hannon| OR: 98| D

100/1

Off the mark in Southwell novice over this trip on return and ran well behind a pair of Aidan O'Brien colts (neither run here) in the Lingfield Derby Trial. Likeable and is open to further improvement with the emphasis more on stamina, but this is surely asking too much.

Form: 3-13

(5)

Nightwalker^p1²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 107

40/1

Frankel colt who is progressing nicely, third in a strong Feilden on his return/debut for the Gosdens before finishing strongly under hand riding from a long way back in the Dante. This even sterner test will suit and he will go on improving (fitted with cheekpieces here).

Form: 313-35

(16)

Pride Of Arras²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 115

4/1

New Bay colt who is unbeaten and posted the best performance of any in this year's trials when coming clear in the Dante from Damysus, sweeping through and far from all out. A fine-looking type with bags of scope, he should stay, while 2 of his 3 siblings have won round Epsom. Lots to like.

Form: 1-1

(1)

Rogue Impact²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: James Owen| OR: 86| D

200/1

Much improved when landing AW maiden over this trip on return from Al Wasl Storm, but struggled in the Lingfield Derby Trial next time and impossible to fancy here.

Form: 0-16

(18)

Sea Scout²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Harry Davies| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 105| C

125/1

Sea The Stars colt who sprung a 40/1 surprise in the trial here in April, taking to the track well and keeping on gamely. Well held behind a host of these in the Dante next time though, and hard to see him winning this up in trip.

Form: 51-18

(2)

Stanhope Gardens¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 111

12/1

Beverley maiden winner who took a huge leap forward when splitting Delacroix and Nightwalker in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket, keeping on well and beaten only late on. Facile winner on return in 3-runner Salisbury event a fortnight ago and suspect he has plenty more to offer up in trip.

Form: 312-1

(12)

Tennessee Stud²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 109

28/1

Saw off Green Storm in a weak French Group 1 in October and shaped as if better for the run behind Delacroix in the Leopardstown Trial on his return last month. Should stay this longer trip but needs to find a stack of improvement.

Form: 3121-3

(19)

The Lion In Winter²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 117| BF

7/1

Sea The Stars colt who looked a mighty prospect when winning the Acomb at York on second 2-y-o start (2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court third). Sent off odds on but fluffed his lines in the Dante on return (not knocked about). Last 2 winners Auguste Rodin and City of Troy flopped before taking this.

Form: 11-6

(11)

Tornado Alert³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 112

40/1

Won 1m AW maiden in October and took a big step forward when 4½ lengths fourth to Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas on return, headed 2f out. Could have a big prize in him but he's unlikely to stay this far.

Form: 31-4

(6)

Tuscan Hills²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D Egan| T: Raphael Freire| OR: 105

40/1

Two from 2 at 2 yrs, including a heavy-ground Pontefract listed contest, but easy to back and faded in the Dante on his return having moved into contention under 3f out. Epsom Classic winners on his immediate dam side but unlikely to be following suit.

Form: 11-7

Non-Runners

(7)

Ruling Court³⁵

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: C Appleby J: W Buick

Forecasts

Delacroix (2/1), Ruling Court (7/2), Pride Of Arras (4/1), Lambourn (13/2), The Lion In Winter (7/1), Midak (9/1), Stanhope Gardens (12/1), Damysus (16/1), Tennessee Stud (28/1), Tornado Alert (40/1), Nightwalker (40/1), Tuscan Hills (40/1), Lazy Griff (50/1), New Ground (50/1), Green Storm (50/1), Al Wasl Storm (50/1), Nightime Dancer (100/1), Sea Scout (125/1), Rogue Impact (200/1)

The Dante is often the key middle-distance Derby trial and the unbeaten PRIDE OF ARRAS, who was well on top at York, can become the sixth runner this century to complete the double. He has a very similar profile to the last horse to do it, Desert Crown, who was also making just his third start here, and seems sure to stay this longer trip, while 2 of his 3 siblings are Epsom winners. 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court is the one to beat if he stays, with Delacroix the pick of Aidan O'Brien's trio.