Group One Epsom Derby Guide 2023

Aiden O’Brien sends three runners to this year’s Epsom Derby in the shape of Adelaide River, San Antonio and current market favourite Auguste Rodin. The latter finished second on debut before winning three times in a row, including Group Two Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and the Group One Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster. He then ran no race on reappearance in 2023 in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, finishing twelfth, but retains plenty of the potential he showed in 2022.

This is another tough assignment with many runners making claims, but he is one of those in the running. Ryan Moore is booked to ride.

Andrew Balding boasts one in this year’s Epsom Derby with the in-form The Foxes. The three-year-old has won three of his last four races, including the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket and the Group Two Dante Stakes at York last time out, where he beat fellow runner in this White Birch by a neck. He was also runner-up to Indestructible in the Group Three bet365 Craven Stakes and heads to Epsom with plenty of potential.

This is again another step up in class but one he should relish and cope with. Oisin Murphy will do the steering.

Charlie Johnston has two runners in this year’s Epsom Derby in the form of Dubai Mile and Dear My Friend. This colt has won three times in his career so far, at Carlisle, Beverley and career best Listed Burradon Stakes at Newcastle a couple of months ago.

However, was a bit exposed when finishing eighth in the Group Two Dante Stakes at York last month.Difficult to see that changing here. Andrea Atzeni is the booked jockey.

Charlie Johnston has a couple of runners in Saturday’s Epsom Derby with Dear My Friend and Dubai Mile. The latter arrives at Epsom in decent form, having won three of his six career runs at Windsor (C5), Kempton (C5) and Saint-Cloud (G1). After beating Arrest on his way to victory on French soil, he did ok in the 2000 Guineas to finish fifth when priced at 33/1 in the hands of Daniel Muscutt.

This is again another tough assignment, but he is certainly not dismissed here and there is no reason why he couldn’t go well again.

Aiden O’Brien sends three runners to the Epsom Derby with favourite Auguste Rodin, San Antonio and Adelaide River. The latter is the least fancied of the O’Brien runners but arrives here in decent nick, finishing second in the Group Three Chester Vase last time out, six lengths behind Arrest. He hasn’t won since winning at Dundalk on debut back in August last year and in truth wasn’t anywhere near Arrest last time out.

His numbers read for decent form, but this sort of company might be too much. James Heffernan is booked to ride.

John and Thady Gosden send one to the Epsom Derby in the form of Arrest. The three-year-old has begun very well in his career so far, winning three times at Sandown, Ffos Las and recording career-best victory last time out in the Group Three Chester Vase last month, beating fellow runner here Adelaide River by over six lengths. The colt proved his ability to stay 1m 4f and now heads to Epsom for his first shot at group one glory.

He’s one of the runners in top form entering the Epsom Oaks, and if continuing to build on his impressive form, can be one of the leading players here. Frankie Dettori does the steering.

John Murphy sends one runner to the Epsom Derby in the form of White Birch. The three-year-old finished fifth on debut at Naas but has since shown lots of promise, winning at Dundalk and Leopardstown (Group Three Ballysax Stakes) and finished runner-up to The Foxes in the Group Two Dante Stakes at York last month prior to the Epsom Derby. The 105-rated colt steps up a further two furlongs on Saturday.

This will be tougher, but he has already shown the ability to compete at grouped level and could do well again here, considered.

Aiden O’Brien sends three runners to this year’s renewal of the Epsom Derby, with Adelaide River, Auguste Rodin and San Antonio. The latter has shown promise on his last three starts after finishing fifth on debut at Tipperary. The Dubawi colt has recorded finishes of third, first and first since his debut, including career-best Listed Dee Stakes at Chester last time out, winning by just under two lengths to 10/11 favourite Alder.

He seems to be the second-string from O’Brien’s stable here, but he cannot be dismissed. Would be a surprising winner, however, and Ryan Moore prefers Auguste Rodin.

Roger Varian sends one runner to the Epsom Derby in the form of King Of Steel. The three-year-old won impressively on debut at Nottingham back in October last year before being fast-tracked into the Group One Futurity Trophy Stakes, won by Auguste Rodin, finishing seventh of eight. He still retains potential, but this is a tough contest on debut for Varian.

Kevin Stott is booked to ride the current 50/1 shot for the Epsom Derby. Others make more appeal, and he would be a shock winner of this on the back of his last grouped outing.

Charlie Appleby boasts one runner in the Epsom Derby with his colt Military Order, who is the brother of Derby and King George winner Adayar. The three-year-old finished fourth on debut but has been unbeaten since, winning class twos at Newmarket and Newbury before career-best victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes last month by just over a length to Waipiro. Has more to find now in group one company but this Frankel colt is a big player.

The runners at the top of the market all speak for themselves and make claims to win here, and Military Order should go very, very close. William Buick will do the steering.

Ed Walker sends one runner to the Epsom Derby on Saturday with Waipiro. The three-year-old 108-rated runner has gone well on his last two outings after finishing sixth of 13 on debut at Kempton in December last term. He won a ten-runner Newmarket novice by over three lengths to Liberty Lane before finishing runner-up to Military Order in the Listed Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield last month. Has more to find now in group one company.

Tom Marquand is booked to ride here, and this colt should not be taken lightly, despite the runners at the top of the market looking like the likelier victors.

Ralph Beckett sends one runner to the Epsom Derby on Saturday with Artistic Star. The three-year-old arrives at this contest unbeaten in his career so far, winning two out of two at Nottingham (C5) and Sandown (C2). Continues that upward spiral here by stepping up to group one company but his experience will be tested fully here.

The 98-rated colt will win more races in the future, but this is a tough test for someone who hasn’t been involved in a race above class two level. Rob Hornby is booked to ride.

Mrs John Harrington boasts one runner in this contest at Epsom on Saturday with Sprewell. The three-year-old hasn’t looked back since finishing fourth on debut at Gowran Park last October, winning twice since at Naas and Leopardstown after finishing runner-up at Naas in November. Career-best performance came last month in the Group Three Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown, beating Up And Under by three lengths before stepping up in trip here (raced at 1m 2f prior).

He has only run on heavy ground so far, but he is to be respected now in group one company. Shane Foley is booked to ride.

Sir Michael Stoute has one in the Epsom Derby in the form of his three-year-old Passenger. The colt has shown a lot of promise on his two career runs so far, winning Newmarket maiden by three lengths to Kathab on debut before finishing third in the Group Two Dante Stakes at York last month, behind White Birch and The Foxes. A little inexperienced compared to some in this race but is an exciting horse.

Richard Kingscote will again take the ride after Passenger was supplemented for this by trainer Stoute. Firmly in the mix.