Here are the horses among the ante-post favourites for this year’s Epsom Derby:
Benvenuto Cellini
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Benvenuto Cellini is a juvenile at the centre in this year’s Derby conversation. A Group 2 winner at Leopardstown and third in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster earlier in 2026, he showed what he’s capable of.
With two wins from four starts and strong Timeform ratings, he’s already proven at the elite level and is expected to progress significantly in the coming years. He’s a much-fancied Derby contender in the ante-post market.
Pierre Bonnard
A high-priced son of Camelot, Pierre Bonnard has long been regarded as a Derby winner. He showed promise as a two-year-old, winning four of his five races in 2025, most notably in two Group 3 outings at Newmarket and Saint Cloud.
But he was well beaten in his first outing of 2026, finishing seventh of nine in the PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown, with eventual winner, Christmas Day, cementing his position as a potential Derby winner.
Hawk Mountain
Unbeaten in his last three starts, Hawk Mountain capped his 2025 campaign with a Group 1 Futurity Trophy win at Doncaster, beating both Action and Benvenuto Cellini.
By Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo mare, he has the ideal Derby pedigree. Proven stamina, toughness, and Group 1 success make him a decent choice in the ante-post market.
Christmas Day
A slightly under-the-radar contender, Christmas Day has rapidly forced his way into the Derby picture. He won the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown in October 2025 as a juvenile, and returned to the track in April to romp home in the PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes under Wayne Lordan.
He appeals as a typical Ballydoyle late developer, and his upward trajectory, alongside a proven ability at 1m2f, suggests he could be peaking at exactly the right time.
Action
Action was second to Hawk Mountain in the Futurity Trophy and consistently held his own in top company. While not yet a Group 1 winner, his proximity to the best of his generation keeps him firmly in the Derby mix.
