The latest leg of the 2025 Classic roadshow took place at the Curragh last Sunday afternoon. Offering €1.15 million in prize money and no shortage of prestige, the Irish Derby is always among the most anticipated Irish events of the season.
Given the similar demands, the Group 1 showpiece naturally attracts those runners who lined up at Epsom on the first Saturday in June. Such was the case in 2025, with the first, second, and third from the British Classic making the trip to the Curragh. Would the result be the same this time around?
Lambourn Delivers for Favourite Backers
Looking back to Epsom, Delacroix rather than Lambourn was fancied to hand Aidan O’Brien an 11th Derby success. However, on that occasion, the market and Ryan Moore got it wrong. Whereas 2/1 favourite Delacroix finished only ninth, Lambourn was let loose from the front by Wayne Lordan on his way to a scintillating success by just under four lengths. Judged on that effort, Lambourn looked well worth his place at the top of the Irish Derby market.
The race didn’t unfold as smoothly as it had at Epsom, but the favourite ultimately rewarded those who took the 8/13 odds. With Sir Dinadan breaking well, Lambourn was unable to grab the lead immediately. However, he soon joined Sir Dinadan at the head of affairs and helped make the running throughout.
Turning for home, the market leader had a fight on his hands. Sir Dinadan cracked two furlongs from home, but a significant challenge emerged in the shape of stablemate Serious Contender. The 28/1 shot briefly drew level, but that only inspired Lambourn to find another gear to score by three-quarters of a length.
A narrow verdict over a horse beaten in a handicap at Royal Ascot suggests Lambourn performed below his Epsom peak. That may be the case, but clock-watchers will suggest this was an above-average renewal. In addition, the determination shown inside the final furlong revealed that Lambourn possesses grit to complement his undoubted ability.
Derby Double Winner Number Six for O’Brien
Following this latest triumph, Aidan O’Brien has trained 17 Irish Derby winners and 11 Epsom Derby heroes. Included in that number are six stars who landed both prizes.
No sooner had Lambourn crossed the line on Sunday afternoon than thoughts turned to where he might head next. Many options are open to this rapidly rising star, but the subsequent exploits of O’Brien’s previous English and Irish Derby champions may serve as a guide.
2001: Galileo
O’Brien’s first entry into this exclusive club arrived in 2001 with the horse who has done more than any other to build the Ballydoyle empire. More than three lengths too good at Epsom, Galileo extended that winning margin to four lengths at the Curragh.
Galileo’s next assignment took him to Ascot for a memorable verdict over Fantastic Light in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. Defeats followed in the Irish Champion Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Classic before Galileo hung up his racing shoes to become the greatest stallion the sport has ever known.
2002: High Chaparral
In common with Lambourn, High Chaparral upset a more fancied stablemate when mastering Hawk Wing by two lengths at Epsom. Having advertised his superior stamina in the British Classic, he oozed class when quickening to victory at the Curragh.
High Chaparral completed his three-year-old campaign with a solid third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and a win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Racing on as a four-year-old, the son of Sadler’s Wells added the Royal Whip Stakes, the Irish Champion Stakes, and a second Breeders’ Cup Turf to his haul before joining Galileo at stud.
2012: Camelot
A gap of only one year separated O’Brien’s first and second dual Derby winners, but he waited 10 years for a third. Camelot kicked off 2012 with a neck success in the 2,000 Guineas before cruising to a five-length Derby romp and a more workmanlike Curragh success.
Set the task of becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Nijinsky in 1970, Camelot came up just short when second to Enke in the St Leger. Seventh in the Arc on his final start at three, his only win at four came in the Group 3 Mooresbridge Stakes.
2014: Australia
In common with Camelot, Australia began his three-year-old season at Newmarket – finishing third behind Night Of Thunder and Kingman in a vintage renewal of the 2,000 Guineas. Always appearing likely to enjoy the step up in trip of the Derby, Australia delivered in style to see off subsequent St Leger winner Kingston Hill. Moving on to the Curragh, odds of 1/8 suggested Australia was in a different league to his four rivals, and so it proved, as he cruised to victory under Joseph O’Brien.
Dropped in trip for his final two outings, Australia landed the Juddmonte International before going down by a neck to The Grey Gatsby in the Irish Champion Stakes. Following the success of Lambourn, Australia joined his father, Galileo, as a dual Derby winner at the track and as a stallion.
2023: Auguste Rodin
Touted as a potential Triple Crown winner at the start of 2023, Auguste Rodin fell at the first hurdle with a desperate effort in the 2,000 Guineas. However, he soon made amends with a half-length verdict over King Of Steel at Epsom and a strong staying win by a length and a half at the Curragh.
Auguste Rodin added the Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf to his three-year-old haul and returned at four to claim the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
King George, Arc, and St Leger All on the Table
When looking at the post-Irish Derby efforts of the above quintet, it remains far from clear where Lambourn will head next.
Appearing to boast stamina as a strong suit, dropping back in trip for the Juddmonte International of Irish Champion Stakes may be less likely than a shot at the remaining 1m4f Group 1 events. Lambourn can be backed at 14/1 to claim the King George, 16/1 to land the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and 20/1 to grab Breeders’ Cup Turf gold.
Or perhaps the colt is not yet done with the Classics. At a general 6/4, he is out on his own at the head of the market for the St Leger Stakes.