2026 Epsom Derby News - Quotes from connections

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Fri 05 Jun 2026 14:33

Jon Vine 3 hours ago

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Quotes from connections ahead of the 2026 Epsom Derby
This Classic takes place at Epsom on June 6th
Read quotes from Aidan O'Brien, Joseph O'Brien, Tom Marquand and more

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore at Epsom. (Getty)

Derby Quotes

Aidan O'Brien (Benvenuto Cellini, Pierre Bonnard, Action and Christmas Day)
Barry Mahon (Racing Manager to the owners of Item)
Tom Marquand (Jockey of Maltese Cross)
Ralph Beckett (Bay Of Brilliance)
Charlie Johnston (Ancient Egypt)
Kevin Blake (Co-owner of James J Braddock)
Jane Chapple Hyam (Balzac)
Jennifer Dorey (Owner & Breeders of Rebel Rocker)

Read exclusive quotes from connections ahead of the 2026 Epsom Derby, which takes place at Epsom on Saturday.

Here's what connections have had to say ahead of the Epsom Derby.

2026 Epsom Derby News - Quotes From Connections

Aidan O'Brien (Benvenuto Cellini, Pierre Bonnard, Action and Christmas Day)

Epsom is the ultimate test in every way. It tests them mentally, physically, left and right. There is no second to Epsom anywhere in the world, the test it is because of the contour of the track, the atmosphere and the strain.

It’s a unique place and that is why the Derby is what it is. It engages the whole thoroughbred breed and tests them in every way. There is no other race or track anywhere in the world that can do it like that. There is nowhere to hide. You have to have pace, ability, you have to stay and you have to be like concrete mentally. All the things are tested.

We’re very happy with Benvenuto Cellini, he’s a beautiful moving horse, everything has gone well since the last day and he’s drawn nicely (stall 12). He’s a big, high cruiser and we always thought Epsom wouldn’t be a problem to him. We always felt he was a mile-and-a-half horse that would be very comfortable with dropping back to a mile and a quarter. We always thought that he was classy, so we’re looking forward to seeing him.

We always wanted to give Pierre Bonnard two runs (before the Derby) and we were always conscious we didn’t want to have him too ready too early because he was a very big horse last year and we wanted to try and let him get as strong as he could before he really had to knuckle down.

He made lovely progress from the first day to the second day, we’re happy with where he is and happy that he’s had the two runs. Everything is good with him. I suppose a lot is going to depend on what way the ground is going to be and how slow it is going to get.

Action is a lovely horse and a big cruiser. He’s was very babyish at Sandown and improved lovely to the Dante and we think he’s come forward again since. He’s a half-brother to the horse that won the Derby last year (Lambourn) and everything he’s doing we’ve been very happy with. Christmas Day is lovely too since York and we think the mile and a half will help him as well.

Barry Mahon (Racing Manager to the owners of Item)

He’s never put a foot wrong so far and is a colt we had Group One aspirations for even as a two-year-old.

He was declared to run in the Futurity at Doncaster before the ground got heavy and we just felt it wasn’t the right thing for him while he was so young.

He showed in the Dante he has the potential to be Group One class and we’re looking forward to seeing how he performs in a proper Group One race.

The Derby is one of the pinnacle races of the European Flat racing season and to have a contender is exciting. The horse is fit and well and we’re looking forward to it.

undefined — Item beating Action and Christmas Day in the Dante Stakes. (Getty)

Tom Marquand (Jockey of Maltese Cross)

William has won more Derbys than me so he knows what it takes. I’m looking forward to riding for him in the Derby and I would say it’s my best ride in the race so far. I’ve been lucky and had some nice finishing results, but this would be my best ride on paper.

He’s a very exciting horse, we know he will stay and we know the track won’t be an issue either and it’s a big weekend for Somerville Lodge.

We’d have loved the rain not to have come as we know he acts on really fast ground really well, but it is what it is and it’s an uncontrollable factor.

He’s always been a well-balanced horse and we’ve never been worried about the track and we’ve never been worried about the trip either. That is two big boxes ticked, but that is still only a small part of an even bigger equation.

I’m not sure if stall one is a positive or a negative and you won’t really know until the weekend, but horses have overcome it before.

Ralph Beckett (Bay Of Brilliance)

I was delighted with the way he handled the track at Lingfield, even though we suspected that would be the case.

He’s a pretty well-balanced individual. I think although he didn’t run at a higher level at two, having gone round Goodwood and Redcar and looked professional both times, it was no surprise he enjoyed himself at Lingfield and has come out of the race as good as he has.

The only question we have to find out is will he be good enough and only the racecourse will tell us that.

Charlie Johnston (Ancient Egypt)

He’s a serious bit of kit and we’d like a few more like him.

He’s a different type of horse to Lazy Griff, but we’re bringing him here expecting him to be in the shake-up.

They’re quite different in that Lazy Griff had done a lot more at two. He won a stakes race at two and barring injury I felt he’d have won a Group One at two.

We came into his three-year-old career working towards the Derby from January. With this horse there was a bit more an unknown as we finished the year on a disappointing note in the Royal Lodge and we had to get back on track a bit. We did that in real good style in Newmarket.

Kevin Blake (Co-owner of James J Braddock)

I would have taken a middle draw. I would have rather had high than low. At 13 we’re in amongst a bunch of the fancied horses, so, I think, looking at it as a whole, I think I’m definitely happy.

I think he fits the bill a little bit. The 1935 heavyweight champion of the world, Irish-American man that met some very hard times in his life and came back and won the heavyweight title against all the odds.

It’s natural to have a little bit of nerves, but I’ve submitted myself to my lack of control.

I’m not training the horse, I’m not riding him, so I’m going to try to relax and enjoy every second of it, because it is truly a once in a lifetime experience, and whatever happens on the track we will enjoy every moment of it.

Jane Chapple Hyam (Balzac)

You always say it when you buy a horse, don't you? 'This is my Derby horse.' But with him that was always the plan: the Derby and the Melbourne Cup.

I was probably more nervous about Lingfield because I backed him up quickly after Epsom, but I didn't do anything with him so he probably wasn't as fit as a flea because I hadn't given him a gallop in between races.

He's finished third twice now to Maltese Cross – first time out at Newmarket and then at Lingfield. I don't think I can reverse the form there, and you have to say at least two of Aidan's would finish in front of us, that's why I say if he finishes sixth, that's a very good result for him. And if he finishes further down the field, so be it. We've given it a try.

Jennifer Dorey (Owner & Breeders of Rebel Rocker)

He's 100/1 in the betting for the Derby but I think that he will do better than 100/1 because I don't think they'll all enjoy Epsom.

I just hope that he can do well – obviously I'm against the billionaires in this, but really you only get one chance to run in the Derby. After he won his Class 2 he'd nearly won enough for his entry fee by then, and then when he was second in the Blue Riband Trial there was a bit more prize money coming in so I thought "Why not have a go?"

Now I just need to keep my fingers crossed. I'd like the ground to be slightly easier than good but we'll see what the weather brings us. I'll be doing a little thunderstorm dance to try to get it to go to Epsom.