Aidan O’Brien will aim for a record 12th English Derby win when seven of his colts run in the £2 million Group 1 race at Epsom on June 6, 2026 [1, 2]. He is seeking a fourth consecutive Derby victory, following wins in 2023, 2024 and 2025 [1, 2].
O’Brien’s seven colts make up nearly half of the 17 entries in the 2,400-meter race, the longest distance in his recent successes and a crucial test of stamina and speed on the Epsom turf [1, 2]. Leading his team is Benvenuto Cellini, a Frankel colt from Ballydoyle, who strengthened his Derby credentials by winning the Group 3 Chester Vase over 2,500 meters on May 6 [1, 2]. This victory bolstered hopes that Benvenuto Cellini will improve over the classic mile-and-a-half distance.
Among the other contenders is Endorsement, a Wootton Bassett colt who has performed consistently this spring, including a third-place finish in the Leopardstown Derby Trial [1, 2]. Pierre Bonnard, a Camelot colt who won the Group 3 Zetland Stakes and the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud as a two-year-old, has shown less impressive form in 2026, but remains in the race [1, 2].
Despite recent dominance at Chantilly where O’Brien saddled the top three finishers in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club on May 31, none of those horses remain in the Derby field [1, 2]. However, he continues to hold the largest share of entries, underscoring his strength as a trainer in this generation of three-year-olds.
Final declarations, the race draw and jockey bookings for the Derby will be confirmed at the 72-hour stage on June 3 [1, 2]. The race offers a total prize fund of £2 million (S$3.4 million), a major incentive for owners, trainers and jockeys competing for the prestigious classic.
The 2026 English Derby will showcase some of the best colts in Europe vying for glory on the famed Epsom Downs. O’Brien’s dominance and the strength of his seven entries make him the man to beat on June 6 [1, 2].