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.
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The first entries stage for the 247th running of the Epsom Derby closed on Tuesday 24th February 2026 and there were 88 entries which included 30 Irish trained, 2 Japanese trained and 1 US trained horse.
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 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 17 yards at Epsom Downs in April, the winner of this race is given an automatic entry into The Betfred Derby for 2025.
2026 Winner
SAXON STREET
Ridden by William Buick
Trained by John & Thady Gosden
Owned by Marcstown Ltd
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.
2026 Winner:
RAAHEEB
Ridden by Rossa Ryan
Trained by Owen Burrows
Owned by Shadwell
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.
2026 Winner:
BOW ECHO
Ridden by Billy Loughnane
Trained by George Boughey
Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid
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.
2026 Winner
BENVENUTO CELLINI
Ridden by Ryan Moore
Trained by Aidan O'Brien
Owned by Brant, Magnier, Tabor, Smith & Westerberg
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.
2026 Winner:
MALTESE CROSS
Ridden by Tom Marquand
Trained by William Haggas
Owned by George Waud
A Group 3 race held at Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland in May. Run over 1mile and 2furlongs, High Chapparal was the last winner of the Leopardstown trial to win The Derby in 2002.
2026 Winner:
JAMES J BRADDOCK
Ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagale
Trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Owned by Kevin Blake
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.
2026 Winner:
ITEM
Ridden by Colin Keane
Trained by Andrew Balding
Owned by Juddmonte
With the trials season for the £2 million Betfred Derby now complete, the picture for the premier Classic in 2026 is becoming clearer following contests at Chester, Lingfield Park, Leopardstown and York.
Chester was all about team Ballydoyle and trainer Aidan O’Brien, who is seeking a record-extending 12th Derby victory.
Benvenuto Cellini sprung to the head of Betfred’s Derby betting when he came home the authoritative winner of the Chester Vase – the same race Lambourn landed in 2025 prior to going on to Epsom Downs success.
The other Derby trial staged on the Roodee is the Dee Stakes and O’Brien was on the mark in this contest with Constitution River. The son of Wootton Bassett could not have been more impressive as he came home the stunning seven-length winner, although connections have indicated he is not a certain runner at Epsom Downs as he also has the option of the Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly.
It is 30 years since William Haggas landed the Derby with his first runner, Shaamit. Three decades on, the Newmarket-based trainer looks to have another serious Epsom Downs contender on his hands in Maltese Cross, who powered to a neck success over Bay Of Brilliance in the Lingfield Derby Trial.
Over in Ireland, it was James J Braddock who delivered the knockout punch in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown. Trained by Joseph O’Brien, the Zarak colt got up on the line to defeat Pierre Bonnard, trained by Joseph’s father Aidan.
York’s Dante Stakes is always one of the strongest trials, providing a dozen Derby winners since 1960. There was a lot to like about the victory of Item in the 2026 running and he is now Betfred’s second favourite. Juddmonte’s homebred Frankel colt is trained by Andrew Balding and maintained his unbeaten record with a two-and-three-quarter length victory over Action.