The Derby at Epsom is one of the most prestigious races in Flat racing around the world. Each year the leading three-year-old horses compete in the 1m4f contest at a course that is a true test of a horse’s balance, speed, and stamina.
This year’s renewal will be the 242nd edition of the contest at the Surrey Racecourse. Here is a look at who the leading contenders are.
O’Brien Bidding For Ninth Success
Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has dominated the British and Irish Classics over the last couple of decades. He recorded his eighth win in the Derby in 2020 when Serpentine was victorious for the Ballydoyle operation.
O’Brien is going to have an excellent chance again this year as he has the ante-post favourite, High Definition, amongst other runners. The son of Galileo is 3/1 in the horse racing betting to come out on top in the contest.
The Irish horse is unbeaten in two starts on the track. He broke his maiden at the Curragh last August. Just a month later he stepped up in class to prevail in the Group Two Beresford Stakes. That race has often been used by O’Brien with his leading two-year-old horses, so it is easy to see why the vibes about High Definition are so strong.
Bolshoi Ballet Second Best In Betting
O’Brien is also set to saddle Bolshoi Ballet in the British Classic at Epsom. He is 8/1 in the betting after success in the Group Three Ballysax Stakes on his opening appearance of the season. That was his second win in four starts.
The Irish horse really stepped up on what he showed last season to make a winning return to action. He is bred to stay further so the Derby is an obvious target. O’Brien’s runner has an entry in the Dante Stakes at York next month, a race which is considered one of the strongest Trials for the Derby.
Wembley is another horse from the Ballydoyle who goes into the Derby with strong hopes. He finished second in two Group One races at the back end of last year, including when he was less than a length behind St Mark’s Basilica in the Dewhurst Stakes.
Uncle Bryn Leads The British Challenge To O’Brien
The leading British horse going into the Derby this year, according to the betting, is Uncle Bryn, currently a 20/1 shot for the race. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the three-year-old horse won both of his starts last season on the all-weather.
Uncle Bryn should make his seasonal reappearance over the next few weeks. He is entered into a Listed race at Epsom, and he has a Dante entry. The Sea The Stars colt scored by over four lengths on his last appearance at Wolverhampton. He made a great impression in the 1m1½f race where he looked as though a step up in trip would not be a problem for him.
Gosden has won the Derby on two occasions so far in his career. He now has a joint-licence with his son, Thady. He will be hoping their pair can strike in the first season of that partnership with their talented colt.
The 2021 Derby takes place on the 5th June. This year’s winner is sure to go on to feature against the older generation in all the leading middle-distance races later in the campaign.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.