The 2025 Betfred Derby Festival Contenders

There are trial races for The Betfred Derby during April and May which are contested by the three-year-olds likely to run in The Betfred Derby.

Run over 1mile, 2furlongs and 17yards at Epsom Downs in April, the winner of this race is given an automatic entry into The Betfred Derby for 2025.

A Group 3 three-year-old race run over 1mile, 1 furlong and 209 yards in April. The most recent participant to win The Derby was Adayar in 2021 who finished 2nd in this trial.

The first of the British Classics in the calendar, this Group 1 is open to three-year-old colts and fillies and is run over 1 mile at Newmarket. The last 2000 Guineas winner to go on to win The Derby was Camelot in 2012.

Run over The Derby distance of 1mile, 4furlongs and 63 yards at Chester Racecourse for three-year-old colts and geldings. The last participant to win The Derby was Wings of Eagles in 2017 who finished 2nd in this trial.

A listed race held on the turf at Lingfield over 1mile, 3furlongs and 133 yards. The left-handed track at Lingfield is similar to that of Epsom Downs with it’s undulating terrain and sharp downhill turn into the home straight. The most recent participant to win The Derby was Adayar who finished 2nd in the trial in 2021.

The last of the Derby Trials, held in May at York Racecourse. Running over 1mile, 2furlongs and 56yards. In total eleven Derby winners have also won the Dante, most recently by Desert Crown in 2022.