The 2025 colts’ Classic had a wide-open look as a bumper field of 18 lined up for the £1.5 million contest. Ryan Moore’s decision to ride Delacroix ensured that the son of Dubawi started as the bookies’ favourite – could he become the first Derby winner for his sire? Of the other O’Brien runners, The Lion In Winter was just about the best of these as a juvenile but needed to bounce back from a poor effort in the Dante Stakes. Chester Vase winner Lambourn looked like a bigger danger on 2025 form as one of the few runners in the field with no stamina concerns.
Following the late withdrawal of the 2,000 Guineas champ Ruling Court, Ralph Beckett’s Pride Of Arras was the shortest price of the home team following his impressive win in the Dante Stakes.
Sporting the silks of Aga Khan Studs, French raider Midak would rate a fitting winner in a race run in honour of the Aga Khan IV. New Ground also made the trip over from France and appeared likely to appreciate the rain-softened ground.
Moving further down the betting list, Damysus caught the eye when running on for second in the Dante; Lazy Griff wasn’t far behind Lambourn in the Chester Vase, and Ralph Beckett’s second-string Stanford Gardens had long been touted as a likely Derby contender.
Result
- 1st – Lambourn 13/2, Jockey: Wayne Lordan, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd – Lazy Griff 50/1, Jockey: Christophe Soumillon, Trainer: Charlie Johnston
- 3rd – Tennessee Stud 28/1, Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £909,628.40
- 2nd – £344,860
- 3rd – £172,590.40
- 4th – £85,974.40
- 5th – £43,147.60
- 6th – £21,654
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £10.35
- Tote Places – 1st – £2.70, 2nd – £8.65, 3rd – £8.75
- Exacta – £338.80
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £316.34
- Trifecta – £3,431.20
- Tricast – £8,294.72
Recap
Whenever Aidan O’Brien holds multiple entries in a Group 1 event, one of his contingent invariably makes the running. In the 2025 Derby, it immediately became clear that Lambourn would be the horse to set the fractions. Propelling his mount from stall 10, Wayne Lordan drove Lambourn into the lead by the first bend. Outsider Sea Scout held second towards the outside, with Lazy Griff, Midak, and Damysus also gaining a prominent early position. The Lion In Winter gained a handy spot in midfield, but favourite Delacroix found himself shuffled back in the pack.
Continuing towards the top of the course, Lordan seemed keen to ensure this was a true test at the distance. He sat two lengths clear at halfway, followed through by Sea Scout, with Lazy Griff and Midak making up the next wave of two. Damysus and Tuscan Hills came next, with market principles Pride Of Arras and Delacroix already looking to have a lot to do.
The danger of allowing one of the strongest stayers in the field to make the running may have dawned on Lordan’s rivals rounding Tattenham Corner. Kicking on again around the bend, Lambourn appeared to have the vast majority of the field flat to the boards.
The trailblazer stuck to the inside in the straight as those in the pack fanned out to launch their challenge. Those challenges produced no dangers to the rampant leader. Lazy Griff briefly threatened to get involved but couldn’t bridge the gap, whilst the late runs from Tennessee Stud to the inside and New Ground to the outer came all too late to land a meaningful blow. Four lengths clear at the furlong pole, the gap remained just under four lengths at the line as Lambourn produced a sizzling all-the-way success. We saw nothing from Delacroix or Pride Of Arras, with the unfancied duo of Lazy Griff and Tennessee Stud grabbing second and third.
Following the victories of Jan Brueghel in the Coronation Cup and Minnie Hauk in the Oaks, this result saw Aidan O’Brien sweep all three Group 1 events at the 2025 Epsom Derby Festival. It was a record-extending 11th Derby win for the remarkable trainer and a first for well-liked rider Wayne Lordan and Australia (as a sire), who claimed the 2014 edition of this race as a runner.
Runners
- 1. Al Wasl Storm – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Owen Burrows, Jockey: David Probert
- 2. Damysus – SP: 16/1, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden, Jockey: James Doyle
- 3. Delacroix – SP: 2/1F, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore
- 4. Green Storm – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Charlie Johnston, Jockey: Billy Loughnane
- 5. Lambourn – SP: 13/2, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Wayne Lordan
- 6. Lazy Griff – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Charlie Johnston, Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
- 7. Midak – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
- 8. New Ground – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Henri-Francois Devin, Jockey: Alexis Pouchin
- 9. Nightime Dancer – SP: 100/1, Trainer: Richard Hannon, Jockey: Jamie Spencer
- 10. Nightwalker – SP: 40/1, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden, Jockey: Tom Marquand
- 11. Pride Of Arras – SP: 4/1, Trainer: Ralph Beckett, Jockey: Rossa Ryan
- 12. Rogue Impact – SP: 200/1, Trainer: James Owen, Jockey: Luke Morris
- 13. Ruling Court – Non-Runner
- 14. Sea Scout – SP: 125/1, Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford, Jockey: Harry Davies
- 15. Stanhope Gardens – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Ralph Beckett, Jockey: Hector Crouch
- 16. Tennessee Stud – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien, Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle
- 17. The Lion In Winter – SP: 7/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Colin Keane
- 18. Tornado Alert – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor, Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- 19. Tuscan Hills – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Raphael E Freire, Jockey: David Egan</li
Non Runners
Ruling Court (unsuitable ground)