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The 2026 Betfred Derby Festival Contenders


Contenders

Derby - intro image v2 (1).jpg

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.

 

See the full list of entries

Trial Races

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 Shadwellrsz__mrc3240.jpg

 

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_MRC1838.jpg

 

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.

 

2025 Winner

LAMBOURN

Ridden by Ryan Moore

Trained by Aidan O'Brien

Owned by Mrs Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith

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.

 

2025 Winner:

PUPPET MASTER

Ridden by Ryan Moore

Trained by Aidan O'Brien

Owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs Magnier & Michael Tabor

 

 

 

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.