Who won the 2026 Epsom Derby?

Christmas Day won the 2026 Epsom Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday 6 June 2026, ridden by Ronan Whelan for trainer Aidan O'Brien. The 7/1 chance won by 2¾ lengths from Maltese Cross with James J Braddock third. The win delivered Aidan O'Brien his record extending 12th Epsom Derby and made it four consecutive Derby wins for the Ballydoyle stable.

When is the next Epsom Derby?

The 2027 Epsom Derby will take place at Epsom Downs in Surrey on Saturday 5 June 2027. It will be the 248th running of the Classic and the second leg of the British Triple Crown after the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and before the St Leger at Doncaster.

Who has won the most Epsom Derbies as a trainer?

Aidan O'Brien is the all time leading Epsom Derby trainer with 12 wins, including a record four consecutive Derby winners from 2023 to 2026 with Auguste Rodin, City Of Troy, Lambourn and Christmas Day.

Epsom Derby Odds & Betting

A historic race originating in Surrey almost 250 years ago, the Epsom Derby resonates with horse racing lovers in the UK and further afield as it perhaps holds the greatest amount of esteem among the British Classics.

Even the name 'Derby', given to the race in honour of the 12th Earl of Derby, has been adopted by other sporting events globally, exemplifying its cultural importance. The Epsom Derby is the second leg of the British Triple Crown after the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and before the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster, with the most recent Triple Crown winner being Nijinsky way back in 1970.

This race is truly a horse racing favourite. In early June, the hotly anticipated event commences once again as jockeys, trainers, and owners aim to do whatever it takes to have their horse gallop home and win the £1 million first prize from a total purse of £2 million.

It's never too early to peek at some Epsom Derby odds to build your betting strategy. Let's investigate the latest Epsom Derby odds and betting options at talkSPORT BET Sportsbook.

The 2027 Epsom Derby is scheduled for Saturday 5 June 2027. As always, the race will be run at Epsom Downs in Surrey, England. Here's all the crucial race information you need before betting on the Derby:

Race Detail	Value
Date	Saturday 5 June 2027
Class	Group 1
First race	1780
Location	Epsom Downs, Epsom, Surrey, England
Distance	1m 4f 6y (2,419m)
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds (excluding geldings)
Weight	9 st 0 lb
Total purse	£2 million
Winning prize	£1 million
Current sponsor	Betfred

2026 Epsom Derby Recap: Christmas Day Lifts Whelan to History

The 2026 Epsom Derby will be remembered as one of the most dramatic editions of recent years. Christmas Day, a 7/1 fourth-string from the Aidan O'Brien stable, landed the 247th running of the Classic by 2¾ lengths over Maltese Cross on rain-soaked Epsom ground on Saturday 6 June 2026. The win delivered first Derby success for jockey Ronan Whelan and a record-extending 12th Derby for O'Brien, who has now won the great race four years in a row after Auguste Rodin (2023), City Of Troy (2024) and Lambourn (2025).

The race was dominated by the early withdrawal of pre-race favourite Benvenuto Cellini, who got his hind leg trapped in the stalls as they opened, never got into the race, and was officially declared a non-runner by the stewards. The decision triggered a major Rule 4 deduction on winning bets across the board. Action and Christmas Day set a strong early pace under Whelan's confident handling, and the eventual winner cruised away in the closing stages to give Camelot, the 2012 Derby winner standing at Coolmore, his first Classic-winning offspring.

Maltese Cross ran a huge second for William Haggas at 12/1 for owner George Waud, while James J Braddock claimed third at 9/1 for Joseph O'Brien and owner Kevin Blake. King Charles III and Queen Camilla were among the dignitaries on Derby Day, with the winning time of 2:43.75 being the slowest in the race since 1983 due to the heavy ground.

The 2027 Epsom Derby ante-post market will be shaped by the autumn 2026 juvenile programme, including the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket (September), the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket (October), the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster (October), and the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud (October). Look for strong early 2027 form across the Chester Vase (May), the Dante Stakes at York (May), the Lingfield Derby Trial (May), and the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown (April) when narrowing your ante-post selections.

Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle stable will be the natural starting point for many ante-post punters given O'Brien has won the Derby in each of the last four years (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026) with Auguste Rodin, City Of Troy, Lambourn and Christmas Day respectively. The Coolmore juvenile crop of 2026 includes plenty of well-bred prospects that will catch the eye of those looking for a 2027 Derby hopeful.

Charlie Appleby's Godolphin stable typically presents serious competition to Ballydoyle at the highest level and will be hunting a first Epsom Derby winner since Masar in 2018.

John & Thady Gosden are another stable to monitor closely given their strong record with elite three-year-old colts.

Other stables to watch include Roger Varian, Andrew Balding, William Haggas (whose Maltese Cross was a fine 2026 runner-up), Joseph O'Brien (whose James J Braddock was third in 2026), Dermot Weld, and the rising group of younger trainers including Jessica Harrington and Donnacha O'Brien.

Outright ante-post markets for the 2027 Epsom Derby are available at talkSPORT BET throughout the autumn 2026 juvenile season and into the spring 2027 trials calendar. Prices typically shorten significantly in the final weeks before the race as trial form becomes apparent.

Recent Epsom Derby Winners

Aidan O'Brien is the all-time leading Derby trainer with 12 wins, including a record four-in-a-row from 2023 to 2026. Here's a snapshot of the most recent Epsom Derby winners:

Year	Winner	Trainer	Jockey	Starting Price
2026	Christmas Day	Aidan O'Brien	Ronan Whelan	7/1
2025	Lambourn	Aidan O'Brien	Wayne Lordan	13/2
2024	City Of Troy	Aidan O'Brien	Ryan Moore	11/8F
2023	Auguste Rodin	Aidan O'Brien	Ryan Moore	9/2
2022	Desert Crown	Sir Michael Stoute	Richard Kingscote	5/2F
2021	Adayar	Charlie Appleby	Adam Kirby	16/1
2020	Serpentine	Aidan O'Brien	Emmet McNamara	25/1
2019	Anthony Van Dyck	Aidan O'Brien	Seamie Heffernan	13/2
2018	Masar	Charlie Appleby	William Buick	16/1
2017	Wings Of Eagles	Aidan O'Brien	Padraig Beggy	40/1
2016	Harzand	Dermot Weld	Pat Smullen	13/2

Note Aidan O'Brien's eight wins out of the last 11 Derbies, including six wins in the last 10 years. The Ballydoyle stable's dominance in the race is one of the most extraordinary trainer records across all flat racing.

If you’re looking for even better value, perhaps for an each-way bet, you might consider the following runners ahead of this year’s race:

Constitution River

A high-class juvenile, Constitution River stamped himself as a genuine Derby contender with victory in the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh in August 2025, a race often key to Classic success. It was his second win of the year, following his earlier triumph under Wayne Lordan at Galway in July.

These performances highlighted both stamina and a relentless gallop, which are traits well suited to Epsom’s demanding test.

King’s Trail

King’s Trail sits just below the top tier in the betting but remains a credible Derby prospect. He has shown consistency in competitive company and gives the impression there’s more to come over middle distances.

If nothing else, he has shown promise in his two outings to date – winning at Kempton Park in the EBF Novice Stakes in October over 1m, then again on the same track in the British EBF Conditions Stakes earlier this year. Not hugely well known, but could be a good each-way betting option for this year’s Derby.

Raaheeb

Raaheeb is more of a dark horse in the 2026 Derby market, with only one outing to go on so far. He won the Class 3 Charbonnel et Walker British EBF Maiden Stakes at Ascot in September 2025, staying on well to record a debut victory under Jim Crowley.

Puerto Rico

A Group 1 winner as a juvenile, including success in France, he has already shown he can compete at the highest level. Puerto Rico won the Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Paris Longchamps, followed by a similarly impressive win in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud later in October.

Whether he has the staying power over the longer distance remains to be seen, but Puerto Rico is certainly one to keep an eye on in the lead-up to this year’s race.

Bet on the Epsom Derby at talkSPORT BET

The names involved in the Epsom Derby odds will likely change in the coming days as the race approaches, so keep an eye out on the talkSPORT BET horse racing betting site for updates and the latest odds. 

Remember to stay in control of your gambling by exploring our Safer Gambling Portal. Your experience should be fun; if you believe this is in jeopardy, we have assistance tools for you. 

*Odds correct at the time of writing.

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