Aidan O’Brien fires three darts at the Derby as he bids to secure a record-extending 10th victory in the Epsom Classic on Saturday.
City Of Troy is the standout member of his team but the Justify colt needs to bounce back from a horror show in the 2000 Guineas, Los Angeles brings an unbeaten record into the contest, while Euphoric has progressed with every race.
Godolpin trainer Charlie Appleby will be doing a rain dance for Ancient Wisdom, who is likely to relish softer conditions and a step up in trip.
Ambiente Friendly takes his chance after winning the Lingfield Derby Trial but Callum Shepherd is locked off for Rab Havlin, while Bellum Justum is a course winner after landing the Blue Riband Trial.
Amo Racing, meanwhile, will be hoping Dallas Star or Mr Hampstead can improve on stablemate King Of Steel’s second place in last year’s renewal.
The latest Derby odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Derby verdict
Timeform: Aidan O’Brien might hold the key to this race yet again. While LOS ANGELES was no striking winner of the Leopardstown Derby Trial on his fast-ground reappearance he was nicely on top at the line and looks sure to benefit from the step up to 1½m. He won’t be inconvenienced should there be any ease in the going having won a Group 1 on soft at 2 and looks a solid alternative to stablemate City of Troy, who looked outstanding at 2 but bombed out in the 2000 Guineas. Macduff is next on the list.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Derby 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Derby 2024.
Ambiente Friendly
Trainer: James Fanshawe Jockey: Robert Havlin Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 6
Gleneagles colt who burst on to the Derby scene when an emphatic 4½ length success in the Lingfield Derby Trial (11.5f, good to firm) 3 weeks ago. Can race keenly so how well he settles in the early stages under new rider Robert Havlin could prove crucial.
***
Ancient Wisdom
Trainer: Charlie Appleby Jockey: William Buick Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 11
Excellent 4-5 in his juvenile season, ending his campaign with Group 1 glory in the Futurity at Doncaster (1m, heavy). No match for Economics but ran well enough to think he’s trained on when second in the Dante at York on his reappearance. Shapes as if he’ll stay 1½m. Any ease in ground in favour.
***
Bellum Justum
Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: Oisin Murphy Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 12
Sea The Stars colt who got off the mark at the fourth attempt in 17-runner Newmarket maiden last autumn and followed up in a 1¼m course listed race on his reappearance. Likely to stay 1½m. More to come.
***
City Of Troy
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 1
Looked top notch in an unbeaten 2-y-o campaign. Ran too badly to be true when a well-beaten odds-on favourite in the 2000 Guineas on reappearance. Auguste Rodin bounced back from a flop in the same race to win this for Ballydoyle last year and it would be no surprise were he to do likewise.
****
Dallas Star
Trainer: Adrian Murray Jockey: David Egan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 7
Stepped up on his juvenile form for Dominic Ffrench Davis when a 3-length winner of the Ballysax at Leopardstown (1¼m, heavy) on his reappearance in April. Will need to take another big step forward to get heavily involved.
**
Dancing Gemini
Trainer: Roger Teal Jockey: D. B. McMonagle Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 15
Listed winner at 2 and confirmed himself a really smart performer when ½-length second of 13 to Metropolitan in the French 2000 Guineas on his Longchamp reappearance, arguably unlucky after meeting trouble. Bred for further but this is a big jump in trip.
***
Deira Mile
Trainer: Owen Burrows Jockey: Jim Crowley Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 14
Useful without winning at 2, notably fourth to Ancient Wisdom in the Futurity at Doncaster (1m, heavy). Readily landed the odds in 1¼m Windsor novice on his return in April but this asks a much sterner question. Cheekpieces go on for the first time.
**
Euphoric
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Declan McDonogh Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 9
Won sole start at 2 and better form in defeat this year, going down by a length to stablemate Los Angeles in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown (1¼m, good to firm) 3 weeks ago. Likely capable of better again now stepping up in trip.
***
God’s Window
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Kieran Shoemark Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 10
Beaten just under 2 lengths into third by Ancient Wisdom in the Futurity at Doncaster (1m, heavy) last autumn. Facile winner in novice company on 1m Nottingham return but comfortably held in Derby trials at Chester and York since.
**
Kamboo
Trainer: Richard Hughes Jockey: Richard Kingscote Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 3
Built on debut promise when a 3-length winner of a 1m Kempton novice in December. Had a subsequent easy winner behind in second but he’s very much pitched in at the deep end on his return to action.
*
Los Angeles
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: W. M. Lordan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 4
Followed his Tipperary debut success by winning the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (1¼m, soft) in October. Took his record to 3-3 when proving a length too strong for reopposing stablemate Euphoric in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown (1¼m, good to firm) on reappearance. 1½m will suit. Big player.
*****
Macduff
Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Rossa Ryan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 8
Progressive form, finishing fourth in Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket final 2-y-o start. Returned with a promising 3¼ lengths second to Arabian Crown in Sandown Classic Trial (1¼m, good to soft) 36 days ago, conceding first run. Definitely more to come and makes the shortlist.
****
Mr Hampstead
Trainer: Dominic Ffrench Davis Jockey: Sean Levey Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 5
Fairly useful form when placed on all 3 starts for Roger Varian but big outsider pitched in at Group 1 level on his first outing for new trainer Dominic Ffrench Davis.
*
Sayedaty Sadaty
Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: Tom Marquand Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 2
Useful colt. Good runner-up efforts at listed races at Newcastle (1m) and Newmarket (1¼m) this spring. Plenty of improvement needed but 1½m could suit and his stable has had big-priced runners go well in this before.
***
Tabletalk
Trainer: Tom Clover Jockey: James Doyle Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 13
Supplemented for this after a 1¼m Chelmsford maiden win last month but a huge jolt of improvement will be needed to figure prominently in this company.
*
Voyage
Trainer: Richard Hannon Jockey: Pat Dobbs Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 16
Golden Horn colt who looked a good prospect when making a winning debut in a 1¼m Newbury novice (good to soft) 6 weeks ago. This is a big ask on only his second start but he does look sure to go on to better things.
***
Saturday’s Racing Tips
- Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing tips for Epsom
- Rory Delargy’s Epsom tips for Saturday
- Mick Fitzgerald’s horse racing tips for Epsom on Saturday
- Jason Weaver’s ITV Racing tips at Epsom on Saturday
Read These Next on the Derby
- When is the Derby? Epsom date, start time, runners and betting
- Confirmed Derby runners and riders for Saturday’s big race at Epsom
- Derby trends and stats for Epsom 4.30 on Saturday
The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
