2026 Epsom Derby Runners - Who remains in contention for Saturday's main event?
With just three days until the 2026 Epsom Derby at Epsom Downs, 14 colts remain in contention. Benvenuto Cellini is the standout favorite for Aidan O'Brien after an impressive win in the Chester Vase. Other major players include unbeaten Item and Lingfield Derby Trial winner Maltese Cross. Several outsiders are also lining up, but most lack the credentials to upset the frontrunners. The consensus is that Benvenuto Cellini is justifiably leading the betting, while Item and Pierre Bonnard present strong challenges among a well-matched field.
- Free run-down of the 14 remaining Epsom Derby runners
- This Classic takes place at Epsom on Saturday 6th June
- Read our thoughts on Benvenuto Cellini, Item and Pierre Bonnard here
14 colts remain in the running for Saturday's Epsom Derby, with Benvenuto Cellini heading the betting for Aidan O'Brien.
There are now just three days to go before this Classic takes place on the final day of the Epsom Derby Festival. Here's a rundown of the colts that remain in contention for year's Epsom Derby.
2026 Epsom Derby Potential Runners
A Taste Of Glory
One of six triple-figure outsiders in the current field, who'll only be running because "his owner likes the Derby". Andrew Balding's colt won a handicap on his reappearance, before finishing last of six in the Lingfield Derby Trial. He stands little to no chance at Epsom.
Action
The first of five entrants that Aidan O'Brien could run in Saturday's main event. Action was narrowly beaten by Hawk Mountain in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last October, and was sure to improve for his comeback effort at Sandown.
Improve Action did, as only Item was able to pass Wayne Lordan's mount in the Dante Stakes at York. He's likely to be up with the pace again at Epsom. As he's a half-brother to last year's Derby winner Lambourn, he should get the trip just fine.
Alderman
Yet to win in three starts for Richard Hannon. Alderman suffered five-length defeats on both of his two-year-old starts, and couldn't lay a glove on Water To Wine on his return at Newbury. He's not good enough to make any sort of impact.
Ancient Egypt
A fine winner of the Newmarket Stakes on his seasonal reappearance. Charlie Johnston's colt travelled comfortably behind the front-runners, before putting two lengths between himself and My Love Is King on the uphill climb to the line.
Ancient Egypt's sole defeat thus far came behind Bow Echo in the Royal Lodge Stakes. David Egan's mount loved the ten-furlong trip at Newmarket, and further improvement over this longer distance wouldn't be unexpected.
Balzac
Has won just one of his four career starts, that being a mediocre novice at Kempton. Balzac was beaten three lengths behind Maltese Cross on debut at Newmarket, and was third again behind that rival in the Lingfield Derby Trial last month.
Jane Chapple-Hyam's colt got a taste of the Epsom Downs when third in the Blue Riband Trial, crossing the line four lengths adrift of Saxon Street. There's more to come from him over longer distances, but I doubt he'll ever be of Classic quality.
Bay Of Brilliance
Relished the step up to ten furlongs when scoring at Goodwood on his second career start, and flattened another Derby entrant in Poker when carrying a penalty to victory on his final two-year-old outing at Redcar.
Bay Of Brilliance was backed on the day of the Lingfield Derby Trial, and produced an excellent performance, losing out to Maltese Cross by a neck. Ralph Beckett knows how to ready a horse for an Epsom Classic. He'll still need to take a huge step forward to challenge the Ballydoyle battalion at the Epsom Derby Festival.
Benvenuto Cellini
Looked smart with back-to-back wins at Killarney and Leopardstown last season. Benvenuto Cellini then carried the tag of favouritism into the Futurity Trophy, but found himself bogged down in heavy ground at Doncaster and could only finish third.
Aidan O'Brien's star romped to a superb victory on his return in the Chester Vase, powering clear of stablemate Proposition, who had taken them along at a decent clip. Ryan Moore will almost certainly ride this strapping son of Frankel. He's certainly a worthy Derby favourite.
Christmas Day
Went into the Dante Stakes as the favourite, following three successive victories. Christmas Day beat A Boy Named Susie at Group Three level on his final juvenile start, and struck under a penalty on his return in the Ballysax Stakes, beating Endorsement and Pierre Bonnard.
Never seemed likely to challenge at York, but plugged on one-paced to finish third behind Item and Action. Jack Cleary will likely be in the saddle, having ridden Christmas Day three times previously. One of the less-fancied Ballydoyle runners.
Item
Made it three wins from three career starts with an impressive triumph in the Dante Stakes. Won both juvenile starts with ease, claiming four-length victories at Kempton and Bath.
Was backed in from a double-figure price at York, and proceeded to beat Action and Christmas Day by a widening three-length margin. He'll come up against better Ballydoyle colts on Saturday, but this son of Frankel hasn't finished improving yet.
James J Braddock
Caused a minor upset when beating Pierre Bonnard in the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial. James J Braddock could only finish fifth on his return in the Gallinule Stakes, but improved plenty for that run as he pipped Aidan O'Brien's favourite to the post at Leopardstown.
Joseph O'Brien's colt seemed to relish heavy ground when winning at the Curragh as a juvenile. James J Braddock proved he could handle better going when winning his Derby Trial, and this further step up in distance is really going to suit this imposing son of Zarak.
Maltese Cross
Never wins by much, but always seems to be doing his best work in the final furlong of a race. Maltese Cross was touched off on his juvenile debut at Ascot in September, and went on to claim narrow novice victories at Newmarket and Newbury either side of a winter break.
Tom Marquand's mount got the better of Bay Of Brilliance to land the Lingfield Derby Trial, as the top two pulled a good way clear of Balzac. He's got two former Derby winners (Sea The Stars and Camelot) sitting prominently in his pedigree. We'll find out whether he's good enough at the weekend.
Pierre Bonnard
Ended 2025 as Aidan O'Brien's leading Derby prospect, following victories in the Zetland Stakes and the Critérium de Saint-Cloud. Pierre Bonnard was expected to make a winning reappearance in the Ballysax Stakes, but looked desperately in need of the run when beating just two of his nine rivals home.
Looked set to return to winning ways in the Cashel Palace Derby Trial, but was overtaken in the dying strides by James J Braddock. Aidan O'Brien is confident that his former Group One winner has improved plenty for those two underwhelming defeats. He remains a leading player, given his connections.
Poker
Has eight lengths to find with Bay Of Brilliance from their clash at Redcar back in October. Made the running on his most recent outing in a four-runner novice at Haydock, but was beaten by stablemate Ravenspire. Only entered to keep Ancient Egypt company.
Rebel Rocker
A maiden winner at Kempton in November, Rebel Rocker ran a huge race to follow Saxon Street home in the Blue Riband Trial. Looks set to be Faye Bramley's first-ever runner in the Epsom Derby. Won't win, but he's an interesting horse for the rest of the season.
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