The Epsom Derby, one of the most prestigious events in the Flat racing calendar, is set for Saturday, June 6, 2026, with the race due off at 16.00 BST. The Epsom Oaks takes place the day before, on Friday, June 5, also at 16.00 BST. The going on the Derby course is currently Good, Good to Firm in Places, though rain is forecast in the lead-up.
Aidan O'Brien, who has saddled the last three Derby winners, is the trainer to beat. He fields four of the 14 runners, including the favourite, Benvenuto Cellini, who won the Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and set a track record at Chester in the Vase on his 2026 debut. Other O'Brien contenders are Pierre Bonnard, Action, and Christmas Day.
Item, unbeaten in three starts, won the Dante Stakes at York, traditionally a strong Derby indicator. Maltese Cross, a Sea The Stars colt and Derby Trial winner, has seen his odds drift after being drawn in stall 1, considered a significant disadvantage.
In the Oaks, O'Brien seeks a 12th win with Amelia Earhart, winner of the Cheshire Oaks. Her main rival is John & Thady Gosden's Legacy Link, though a draw in stall 1 hampers her chances. Precise, expected to be a serious challenger, will not run after 33mm of rain fell at Epsom. Nine fillies go to post.
Punters can find the latest Epsom Derby and Oaks odds from recommended betting sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Free bets are available, but responsible gambling is advised: set budgets, avoid chasing losses, and use deposit limits and self-exclusion tools.
