Epsom Derby Preview
Auguste Rodin wins the 2023 Epsom derby. Credit: Alan Crowhurst
Action (IRE)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Wayne Lordan
Sire: Frankel (GB)
His two-year-old form reads exceptionally well, he finished third to 2000 Guineas winner Bow Echo, and second to stablemate Hawk Mountain, who went on to place in the French Derby. However, he has struggled in two starts as a three-year-old, finishing fourth as a $1.67 favourite in the Classic Trial before running a distant second to Item in the Dante Stakes. While he isn't expected to lead, he should settle comfortably in the first three or four runners near the pace. It is difficult to see him reversing form with Item, but coming from the powerful Aidan O’Brien yard he demands respect, though others are preferred.
Credit: Racing TV
Alderman (GB)
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Pat Dobbs
Sire: Study of Man (IRE)
Rightfully one of the rank outsiders in the field. Alderman has only contested maiden company in his three career starts, failing to win on each occasion. He now faces a steep rise in class against some of the best horses in the UK, and it would be a major surprise to see him feature in the finish.
Ancient Egypt (IRE)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: David Egan
Sire: Frankel (GB)
Brings a respectable record of three wins from four starts into the Derby and has attracted market support. His sole defeat came in the Royal Lodge Stakes as a two-year-old, where he was trapped three-wide without cover, a performance we can easily forgive. Drawn wide for the Derby, he will have to expend some early energy to find the front. He enters this off a victory in the Listed Newmarket Stakes, while that form doesn't look quite as strong as his rivals', he clocked a time of 2:03.80, which is marginally quicker than the times his competitors have posted over similar 2000m distances. The market respect suggests he should be highly competitive.
A Taste of Glory (GER)
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Jamie Spencer
Sire: Soldier Hollow (GB)
The roughie of the race and after his poor performance in the Lingfield Derby Trial it is warranted. He lead the field up to the turn and was then the first runner beaten and tailed off to finish a distant last.
Balzac (GER)
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam
Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
Sire: Japan (GB)
Ran third in the Lingfield Derby Trial, but was clearly outclassed by the winner and runner-up. He’s only once from his five starts and don’t see him adding to his record here.
Bay of Brilliance (GB)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Hector Crouch
Sire: New Bay (GB)
Was the only horse to push Maltese Cross all the way to the line in the Lingfield Derby Trial. He had no right to fight back the way he did when Maltese Cross loomed up on his outside, at the 300m pole it looked as though he would be easily swept aside. Credit to Bay of Brilliance, who dug deep and refused to relinquish the lead without a fight, with the pair gapping the rest of the field by 6.5 lengths. He must be respected.
Bay of Brilliance (right) fighting out the finish with Maltese Cross (left). Credit: Racing Post
Benvenuto Cellini (IRE)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Sire: Frankel (GB)
The current Derby favourite, Benvenuto Cellini arrives off the back of a dominant display in the Chester Vase Stakes, the same race won by last year’s winner, Lambourn. Ryan Moore is booked for Aidan O’Brien’s primary hope, which serves as a telling pointer. What sets him apart from his main rival, Item, is his proven proficiency on rain-affected tracks. This looks set to be a crucial asset, with significant rain forecast in the build-up to this year’s race.
Christmas Day (IRE)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ronan Whelan
Sire: Camelot (GB)
The third of the Aidan O’Brien runners and another contender tailored for testing conditions, having already secured two Group 3 victories on soft tracks. However, he remains unproven at this extended distance and was ultimately no match for Item in the Dante Stakes. While the wet weather plays into his hands, it is difficult to see that being enough to turn the tables on Item, let alone challenge his primary stablemate, Benvenuto Cellini.
Item (GB)
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Colin Keane
Sire: Frankel (GB)
He is clearly the main threat to Benvenuto Cellini. He has an unblemished record of three wins from three starts, including his dominant win in the Group 2 Dante Stakes. There are a few concerns surrounding him, such as his ability to handle a wet track. Another thing his main rival has on him is the distance, Benvenuto Cellini has already won over this distance, where Item is stretching his legs out to 2400m for the first time.
James J Braddock (GB)
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: Dylan Brown McMonagle
Sire: Zarak (FR)
Owned by Melbourne Cup winning owner Ozzie Kheir, James J Braddoc has mixed his form leading into the Derby with a fifth in the Ballysax Stakes behind Christmas Day, but then came out and beat Pierre Bonnard in the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes. He sat third and launched a very late run to claim Pierre Bonnard right on the line. The market has Pierre Bonnard in front of this galloper, who only looks like he’ll improve with the rise in distance.
James J Braddock (outside), defeats Pierre Bonnard (middle). Credit: Pat Healy Photography
Maltese Cross (FRA)
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE)
Made it three wins from four starts last time out when he won the Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes, defeating a gallant Bay of Brilliance. He’s drawn ideally to get an economical run, expect to see him camped behind the leaders and featuring in the finish. Just not sure the Lingfield Derby Trial is the right form guide for this year’s Derby.
Pierre Bonnard (IRE)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
Sire: Camelot (GB)
Hard to have him as he too mixes his form. He was poor in the Ballysax Stakes when he was rolled as a $2 favourite, beaten six lengths and finished seventh of nine. Last start was much better when second to James J Braddock, which he received a 112 rating from racenet afterwards. Before those runs, he was a Group 1 winner in France over 2000m. The market respects him, so he has to be kept safe and considered.
Poker (IRE)
Trainer: Karl Burke
Jockey: Rowan Scott
Sire: Wootton Bassett (GB)
Another one of the roughies. He is still a maiden and his only notable performance to date was a second behind Bay of Brilliance. Hard to see him matching the quality that this field possesses.
Rebel Rocker (GB)
Trainer: Faye Bramley
Jockey: Rob Hornby
Sire: Cityscape (GB)
The final runner of the field, Rebel Rocker has never finished worse than second in his three career starts. However, those three starts were in lower-grade and lower-quality races than this.
