2024 Epsom Derby Runner by Runner Guide

Tipsters Empire – 2024 Epsom Derby Verdict 

 

The premier Classic on the flat racing calendar, the Betfred Derby takes centre stage at Epsom on Saturday afternoon. Sixteen runners will be bidding to etch their names into the history books this weekend, and we’ve decided to take a closer look at the profiles of each of the entries and have also provided a runner-by-runner guide to this Saturday’s Group 1 showpiece event. 

 

Last 10 Epsom Derby Winners:

 

Year	Horse	Price	Trainer
2023	Auguste Rodin	9/2	Aidan O’Brien
2022	Desert Crown	5/2F	Sir Michael Stoute
2021	Adayar	16/1	Charlie Appleby
2020	Serpentine	25/1	Aidan O’Brien
2019	Anthony Van Dyck	13/2	Aidan O’Brien
2018	Masar	16/1	Charlie Appleby
2017	Wings Of Eagles	40/1	Aidan O’Brien
2016	Harzand	13/2	Dermot Weld
2015	Golden Horn	13/8F	John Gosden
2014	Australia	11/8F	Aidan O’Brien
2013	Ruler Of The World	7/1	Aidan O’Brien

 

Tipsters Empire – 2024 Epsom Derby Runner-By-Runner Guide: 

 

Ambiente Friendly (James Fanshawe, Robert Havlin)

Left his previous form well behind when running out an impressive winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial last month, quickening up smartly on the front end to win by just over four lengths on his first start over a mile-and-a-half. Form of that particular trial appears to be rock solid – the third has since scored at Listed level, while the runner-up had previously gone close in Group 1 company. That recent Lingfield victory was also backed up by a solid time figure (wasn’t far off the course record), and it’s no real surprise to see him up there in the current betting. Much has been made of the recent jockey switch, but that doesn’t appear to be a clear negative when it comes to his winning chance. His tendency to over-race is a possible cause for concern though, while his standout efforts have come on a sounder surface.

 

Ancient Wisdom (Charlie Appleby, William Buick) 

High-class Dubawi colt who cost a pretty penny as a yearling (€2,000,000). Went someway to justifying that hefty price tag when winning four of his five juvenile starts last term, his sole defeat coming in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot when finishing third behind the likes of Al Musmak and Rosallion. Rounded off his 2yo campaign with comfortable victories in the Autumn Stakes and Futurity Trophy at Newmarket and Doncaster respectively, and although he was firmly put in his place by Economics on his seasonal return in the Dante earlier this month, connections had previously stated that he might well need the run that day, and better can surely be expected of him with that effort under his belt. Step up to 1m4f this weekend promises to suit and any further rainfall between now and Saturday afternoon will be very much in his favour. 

 

Bellum Justum (Andrew Balding, Oisin Murphy) 

Belatedly got off the mark at the fourth attempt when winning a maiden over a mile at Newmarket towards the end of last season. Defeated subsequent Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes winner Inisherin on that occasion, and confirmed that winning effort was no fluke when doubling his career tally in the Listed Blue Riband Trial at Epsom on his seasonal comeback in April. Previous course form entitles him to respect this weekend, however, he still appears to have a bit to find with a few of the main market protagonists, and you have to go way back to Blue Peter in 1939 to find the last horse who completed the Epsom Trial & Epsom Derby double. 

 

City Of Troy (Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore) 

All eyes will once again be on City Of Troy this weekend as the strapping son of Justify bids to become Aidan O’Brien’s tenth winner of this prestigious Group 1 contest. After going unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile last term, this year’s 2000 Guineas appeared to be his for the taking…….or so most of us thought at least. A warm order on his return to action at Newmarket, he was sent off 4/6 to get the job done, however, the writing was very much on the wall from an early stage that day and he ultimately trailed home in ninth place, beaten just under seventeen lengths crossing the line. The trainer couldn’t really offer an obvious explanation for that lacklustre performance in his post-race interviews, although some have argued that City Of Troy was simply too fresh in the preliminaries. Either way, Aidan O’Brien’s charge has plenty to prove off the back of that run this weekend, while his draw on the inside in stall 1 is far from ideal either. It is worth pointing out that Auguste Rodin overcame a dismal run in the 2000 Guineas before winning the Derby last season for connections, however, it’s very much a head and heart decision for punters when it comes to City Of Troy this weekend, but the slight percentage call right now is to look elsewhere.

  

Dallas Star (Adrian Murray, David Egan)

Sprung a huge surprise when making a winning return at 50/1 in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown back in April. Defeated a couple of fairly useful Aidan O’Brien runners on that occasion, however, the form of that contest hasn’t really worked out in recent weeks and he appears to be up against it this Saturday despite seemingly having conditions in his favour – record on soft/heavy ground reads 1-3-1. 

 

Dancing Gemini (Roger Teal, Dylan Browne McMonagle)

Won two of his five starts as a juvenile last season, including when thumping eight rivals in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes over seven furlongs at Doncaster in September. The step up to a mile on heavy ground appeared to stretch his stamina when finishing fifth behind Ancient Wisdom in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy Stakes back on Town Moor just over a month later, however, he put that final two-year-old run firmly behind him when producing a career best effort when finishing a staying on second in the French 2000 Guineas on his return to action at Longchamp earlier this month. Doesn’t necessarily appear to be crying out for a step up to a mile-and-a-half on recent visual evidence, although his pedigree does offer plenty of encouragement – his sire and dam’s sire both won the Derby in 2012 & 2014. 

 

Deira Mile (Owen Burrows, Jim Crowley) 

Wasn’t beaten far in any of his four starts as a two-year-old last term, including when finishing fourth behind Ancient Wisdom in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster last October. Made the most of a golden opportunity when getting off the mark at the fifth attempt on his seasonal reappearance at Windsor (1m2f) in April, and has subsequently impressed connections following a recent spin around Epsom just last week. Overall profile doesn’t suggest that he’s up to winning a race of this nature, and although he has attracted some market support in the last few days, it’s extremely difficult to see him playing a part in the finish on Saturday afternoon. 

 

Euphoric (Aidan O’Brien, Declan McDonogh)

Son of Frankel who cost 2,000,000 guineas as a yearling. Got up close home to win on debut over a mile at Navan last October but has subsequently failed to add to his tally in two starts this season. Finished just a length behind stablemate Los Angeles in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown on his most recent start, and although he will do well to turn the form around with that rival this weekend, he’s still very much open to further improvement and trip and ground shouldn’t be a problem for him either.  

 

God’s Window (John & Thady Gosden, Kieran Shoemark) 

Ran out a cosy winner of a Doncaster  maiden (1mile) on his racecourse debut back in September, and returned to that course and distance just over a month later when finishing third behind Ancient Wisdom in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy in October. Made the most of a decent opportunity at Nottingham last month, but proved to be a tad disappointing when finishing last of four runners in the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester’s May meeting. Had questions to answer when lining up in the Dante Stakes at York earlier this month and once again appeared to fluff his lines, folding tamely into fifth after making the running. Ideally berthed in stall 10 this weekend – 11 previous Derby winners have emerged from that stall – but surely has too much to prove on current form.  

 

Kamboo (Richard Hughes, Richard Kingscote) 

Finished sixth behind the well-touted Matsuri on his racecourse debut at Kempton (1mile) back in November, and duly built on that encouraging opening effort when getting off the mark in impressive fashion over the same course and distance just three weeks later. Defeated a subsequent winner in Sardinian Warrior that day – still holds an entry in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse later in the year – and clearly has plenty of ability in his own right. Although his pedigree offers hope for the step up in trip, he’s yet to race this season and is yet to step foot on turf. Connections clearly hold him in high regard but this might be a step too far for him at this early stage of his career.  

 

Los Angeles (Aidan O’Brien, Wayne Lordan) 

Unbeaten son of Camelot who created a favourable impression when getting off the mark at the first attempt on his racecourse debut at Tipperary (1m1f) last September. Displayed a gutsy and likeable attitude when rounding off his juvenile campaign with Group 1 success in the Criterium De Saint-Cloud in October, and kept his perfect record intact when making a winning return in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown earlier this month. The form of that particular Trial is open to question, however, he always appeared to be in control that day and he hit the line very strongly under jockey Wayne Lordan. He should relish stepping up in distance this weekend and there should be a lot more to come from him. 

 

Macduff (Ralph Beckett, Rossa Ryan) 

Sea The Stars colt who was well found in the market prior to making a winning debut at Newmarket (7f) last season. Ultimately failed to add to that tally but was far from disgraced in either of his final couple of juvenile outings, including when finishing a staying on fourth in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes over a mile in September. Probably wasn’t seen to best effect when finishing runner-up behind Arabian Crown in the Classic Trial at Sandown on his seasonal reappearance in April, but still shaped with plenty of promise in defeat nonetheless. Bound to improve for that return to action and should have no issue seeing out the 1m4f trip despite having a rather mixed pedigree on paper. Yard can certainly ready one for the big occasion – Westover was an unlucky 3rd for the same connections back in 2022 – and a career best effort is certainly not ruled out. 

 

Mr Hampstead (Dominic Ffrench Davis, Sean Levey) 

Well bred son of Galileo who’s shown glimpses of promise in defeat in each of his three starts so far. Yet to make it into the winner’s enclosure and extremely difficult to see him shedding the maiden tag in this ultra-competitive Group 1 contest. 

 

Sayedaty Sadaty (Andrew Balding, Tom Marquand) 

An unfortunate unseat at Windsor on just his third racecourse outing back in August highlighted him as a potential tricky customer, but he’s seemingly turned a bit of a corner mentally & physically this term. Finished nicely clear of the third when going down by just a neck in Listed company at Newcastle (1mile) in March and again produced a similar type of performance when finding only Caviar Heights too good over 1m2f at Newmarket earlier this month. Form of that race has taken a bit of a knock since – the eventual winner was well beaten in the Dante a couple of weeks ago. He does have a bit too find with several of these, but he should have little trouble coping with the extra couple of furlongs this weekend, and it’s also worth noting that the yard have managed to hit the frame with big-priced selections in the past. Stall 2 does temper enthusiasm though. 

 

Tabletalk (Tom Clover, James Doyle) 

Camelot colt who was surprisingly supplemented for this race for £75,000 on Monday. Was sent off 18/1 when making an eye catching debut in third at Kempton (1mile) back in December, and duly confirmed that initial promise when getting off the mark over a couple of furlongs further at Chelmsford on his return to action earlier this month. Connections have also enlisted the services of jockey James Doyle this weekend, however, his all-weather form falls someway short of the others in here and he really would be a shock winner on what is his first ever turf start. 

 

Voyage (Richard Hannon, Pat Dobbs) 

Overcame a late and significant market drift when making a winning debut over 1m2f at Newbury in April. A couple of future winners have emerged from that particular novice contest, however, it’s far from the standard required to win a race like this. Takes a huge step up in class on Saturday afternoon, and although he’s clearly a useful prospect, his lack of racecourse experience is an obvious concern and this Group 1 contest is surely a bridge too far for him.