2025 Epsom Derby

Nineteen three-year-old colts were declared for the Derby but the 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court was withdrawn on the morning of the race as his connections felt that he would be unsuited by the ground conditions.^[2] The favourite for the race was Delacroix, trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, a colt who had looked impressive in winning both his races of 2025.^[3] O'Brien also saddled Lambourn, the winner of the Chester Vase^[4] and The Lion In Winter who had been favourite for the race over the winter but run poorly on his previous start. The fourth Irish entry, trained by O'Brien's son Joseph, was Tennessee Stud, the winner of the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud.^[5] The two French challenegers were the Prix Greffulhe winner Midak,^[6] representing the stable of the late Aga Khan IV and the Juddmonte-owned outsider New Ground.

The two best-fancied of the English runners came from the Hampshire stable of Ralph Beckett: Pride of Arras had won the Dante Stakes^[7] while Stanhope Gardens had run second to Delacroix in the Autumn Stakes. The only others to start at odds of less than 50/1 were Tornado Alert (fourth in the 2000 Guineas), Nightwalker (third in the Autumn Stakes) and Tuscan Hills (Silver Tankard Stakes).^[8]

Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.

The Derby was run on a cloudy, wet day on ground officially described as good in front of an unusually small paying crowd of 22,312.^[9] Lambourn took the lead soon after the start and set the pace from Sea Scout with Lazy Griff and Midak settled just behind the leaders. The leading positions remained unchanged until the turn into the straight when Sea Scout and Midak began to struggle, allowing Lambourn to open up a clear lead with Lazy Griff moving into second place. Lambourn never looked in any danger and stayed on strongly to win by three and three quarter lengths from Lazy Griff. Stanhope Gardens moved into third place inside the final quarter mile but was overtaken by Tennessee Stud and New Ground in the final strides. The favourite Delacroix was never in contention and finished ninth.^[10] In describing the race the Racing Post's David Jennings commented "Can you remember a less dramatic Derby? Literally nothing happened. Anywhere. At any stage. Lambourn broke well, made all, unchallenged."^[11]

* The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter; hd = head.
† Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.