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Final runners for The Derby confirmed ahead of the 2026 Classic

Jennifer Donald Jennifer Donald

    • The final field of Derby entries has been decided after the last deadline for declarations passed on the morning of Wednesday 3 June. The finishing touches are now being made for 14 runners and riders announced for the 2026 Epsom Classic. The Betfred Derby takes place at 4pm on Saturday 6 June on Epsom Downs racecourse and an A-list crop of three-year-old colts are set to line up for this year’s race.

    So who will be bidding for glory and a slice of history in the £2,000,000 contest?

    Here is your full run down of this year’s Epsom Derby entries.

    Derby entries: who is trying to win the £1m first prize?

    After the final scratching deadline of 3 June, a total of 14 Derby horses remain for the 247th running of the world-famous 1m 4f race. Irish training maestro Aidan O’Brien saddles four of the contenders, including the race favourite Benvenuto Cellini, and a further runner is trained by his son Joseph O’Brien.

    But there’s also an intriguing English contingent lining up to contest this country’s richest and most prestigious horse race.

    So who will follow in the hallowed footsteps of the likes of City Of Troy, Sea The Stars, Galileo and Mill Reef to take the Epsom crown? Which jockeys are riding which horses in this year’s race?

    Here is the complete list of 2026 Epsom Derby runners and riders.

    Epsom Derby runners

    • Action (Trainer: Aidan O’Brien)
    • Alderman (Richard Hannon / jockey: Pat Dobbs)
    • Ancient Egypt (Charlie Johnston / David Egan)
    • A Taste Of Glory (Andrew Balding / Jamie Spencer)
    • Balzac (Jane Chapple-Hyam / Silvestre de Sousa)
    • Bay Of Brilliance (Ralph Beckett / Hector Couch)
    • Benvenuto Cellini (Aidan O’Brien)
    • Christmas Day (Aidan O’Brien)
    • Item (Aidan O’Brien / Colin Keane)
    • James J Braddock (Joseph O’Brien / Dylan Browne McMonagle)
    • Maltese Cross (William Haggas / Tom Marquand)
    • Pierre Bonnard (Aidan O’Brien)
    • Poker (Kieran Burke / Rowan Scott)
    • Rebel Rocker (Faye Bramley / Rob Hornby)

    The following horses were scratched from the race on Wednesday 3 June and will not take part: Amadeus Mozart (Aidan O’Brien), Causeway (Aidan O’Brien), Endorsement (Aidan O’Brien), Hawk Mountain (Aidan O’Brien), Constitution River (Aidan O’Brien), Proposition (Aidan O’Brien), Saxon Street (John and Thady Gosden), Shosholoza (Joseph O’Brien).

    The Betfred Derby Festival takes place at Epsom Downs from 5-6 June. Horse & Hound will be bringing you all the latest news and tips in the run-up to the meeting, as well as online coverage with a special report featuring in the magazine on sale 11 June.

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    Jennifer Donald
    Jennifer Donald

    H&H showjumping editor
    Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.
    Jennifer Donald

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