One of the biggest jewels in the British sporting calendar would arrive once again on its usual early June spot as Epsom Derby day would be roll into town. An eight race spectacular would be the source of the action on the Downs and racecourse organisers have made a real push to bring this world famous contest back to the people following some poor attendances in recent years. A new festival zone, affordable tickets and a more racegoer friendly experience have been added to the one of the oldest and biggest races in the world of horse racing. 
A revamp of the races on this card has also taken place and now provides high quality everywhere, for all ages and gender of horse. There is a real variety in the contests too with the Group One Coronation Cup added to the Saturday card with the new addition of a Group Three contest, deeply competitive handicaps and of course, the Epsom Derby itself as the main course. New champions will be named and history will be made on this famous piece of land. 

Race One: The Betfred Tattenham Corner Stakes - Seven Furlongs - Group Three - Runners: 8

Derby Day would open up with a brand new race to Epsom, the Group Three Tattenham Corner Stakes. This seven furlong contest was previously held at Haydock under the guise of the John Of Gaunt Stakes, but a rethink of the pattern system saw the race moved from the North West to the South East and the name changed to the famous section of the Epsom track. While it was held at Haydock, this race has been open to four year olds and older and was often won by real specialists of this seven furlong distance. Former winners include Major Cadeaux, Kinross and dual winners Main Aim and Warningford. Twelve months ago, the Ed Walker-trained Ten Bob Tony got up in the closing stages in a classy renewal. 2026 will see a brand new name on the trophy and a piece of history as the inaugural winner of this new look race. 

The opening contest would be headed by the formerly very smart Alcantor, who has recently moved to the Joseph O'Brien stable. The ex French-trained colt finished third in the French Guineas two years ago but found winning hard to come by. He would run well in slightly better company last year and finished fourth on his Irish debut in April. The useful Balmaccara would line up the Eve Johnson Houghton stable here and has been a solid type around this level. His past experience at Epsom includes third in a similar race two years ago and he took third in a listed contest at Haydock on his seasonal comeback. The first of the Irish challengers would come in the form of Chicago Critic, hailing from the Johnny Murtagh yard. His latest win came just over a year ago, but he showed consistent from in the Middle East at the start of the year but looked rusty at the Curragh after a short break recently. Richard and Peter Fahey would send down Golden MInd from their Yorkshire base for this contest and the five year old would take on Group company for the first time in nearly three years. He showed very smart form in strong handicaps last year and did well to finish fourth in a big field handicap at Ascot last time out. Richard Hannon's four year old Linwood has always threatened to make into a classy sort and he looks ready for this test. The gelding won impressively at the end of last season before seeing off a big field in the Spring Cup at Newbury on his return to action in April. One of the biggest improvers of 2025 was the gelding Never So Brave. After joining the Andrew Balding stable, the five year old bolted up at Royal Ascot before adding the Group One City Of York Stakes in August. He looked rusty on his comeback at Sandown in April, but lines up here without a penalty for that Group One success. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum passed away at the start of this year, but the silks worn to victoy by High-Rise in the Derby of 1998 were carried in this contest by Poet Master. Karl Burke's six year old isn't a perennial winner, but his best effort last year came when second in the Joel Stakes. A repeat of that effort will see him go close here. Ten Bob Tony would theoretically put his title on the line in this contest, despite the new appearance of the race he won last year. Ed Walker's five year old posted an excellent third in the Prix de la Foret last October, but ran poorly at Haydock in a listed race last month. Witness Stand took his moment in the sun by winning the Lennox Stakes at the Glorious Goodwood festival last summer. Richard Newland and Jamie Insole's five year old struggled in Group One races at the end of last year, but makes his return to action following a spell in Dubai earlier this year. 
Winner: TEN BOB TONY (#7) (Night of Thunder x Hug) - K. Shoemark - E. Walker

Overcast skies greeted racegoers as the racecourse doors opened with a hum of excited anticipation but as the horses reached the seven furlong starting point for the first race, the heavens would open. Derby Day would get underway with the signal of the starter's flag and the eight runners emerged from their stall. Witness Stand was the most alert to the start and surged into the lead immediately under Billy Loughnane and took the raceby the scruff of the neck. Poet Master would sit in second but raced a shade keenly with Ten Bob Tony and Golden Mind racing in the next two positions. Further back in the field, Never So Brave was slow to start under Oisin Murphy and found himself a long way behind the leader Witness Stand, who was sweeping around Tattenham Corner at a rapid pace. As the leader free-wheeled around the bend, he then opted to bring the pack towards the stand's side rail, a common occurrence with soft ground. Poet Master would then go head to head with Witness Stand approaching the final furlong with Ten Bob Tony travelling strongly just behind. Poet Master's stamina would empty out which left Witness Stand in a clear lead in the final furlong. The big white face of Ten Bob Tony gave chase approaching the line and made up ground with each stride. The pair became one with the line approaching and Ten Bob Tony stretched his neck out at the right moment to steal the win away. A short pause for the photo finish result seemed academical, but the first race would for to Ten Bob Tony by a head. Witness Stand's bold front running tactics almost paid off while Poet Master came home a lonely third. The top four would be completed by Chicago Critic. 

In a race which many few of the runners got involved in, the opener would produce a brilliant finish for the big crowd. Seven furlong contests of this nature are quite hard to find on the calendar, but Ten Bob Tony has made most of the opportunities given as he is a real specialist at this distance. The flashy chestnut has made twelve of his seventeen lifetime starts over seven furlongs and has produced very classy form throughout. Ten Bob Tony first made a name for himself by winning the former Free Handicap at Newmarket in April of 2024 before taking fourth in the German 2000 Guineas. A second in that season's Joel Stakes would be a best finishing position of 2024, but for the following season, he would come of age. Winning the equivalent of this race at Haydock at the end of May 2025, A lifetime best came in the Group One Prix de la Foret on Arc weekend in October when a close up third, but he hadn't been at his best so far this season. A fourth at the Curragh in a listed race was a promising start, but last time out he disappointed in the listed  Spring Trophy at Haydock where he ran flat in eighth. Soft ground is seemingly key to his chances, so the rain that fell in the lead up was music to his ears. The gelding can continue to compete at a higher level if the conditions are in his favour.

Race Two: The Princess Elizabeth Stakes - Group Three - One MIle - Runners: 7

Next up, it would be the turn of the fairer sex as the fillies and mares took to the stage for the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, another Group Three, but this time over a mile. The contest holds an interesting history as it was once ran as a trial for the Oaks during April, but now finds itself on the support card to the biggest Classic of the year. Three horses have won this contest twice during their career, namely Echelon in 2006 and 2007, Antara in 2010 and 2011 and finally Thistle Bird in 2013 and 2014 and since then, a number of high class broodmares have added this to their racing CV. They would include the future Juddmonte winner Arabian Queen in 2014. Last year, this race would go the way of Spiritual, who gained her first Group race win, providing the John and Thady Gosden stable with a first win in this race

The class of 2026 would see the popular homebred mare Sparks Fly carry a penalty for the contest. She has been an excellent representative for trainer David Loughnane over the years and finished third in this race last year. After landing a French Group Three last autumn, she then improved to take fourth against the males in the Huxley Stakes at Chester last month. The talented mare Arisaig is the type of horse who is too classy for handicaps but not quite good enough at Group company, but when she is on form, she is very capable. Charlie Johnston's five year old took second place in a Group Two at Goodwood last summer and wasn't beaten far at the same course a month ago when fourth in listed company. The grey Betty Clover isn't the force she once was, but continues to search for more black type for the Eve Johnson Houghton stable. The four year old is a former listed race winner and ran just adequately at the same level this year on two occasions. The French challenger Breckenbrough held an entry in the opening contest against the males, but her Italian born trainer Mario Baratti opted for this assignment. The four year old moved to France midway through last year and picked up a listed race there. She has since finished in the minor placings in two more listed contests, so she is talented. The five year old Love Dynasty doesn't have many miles on the clock but has shown smart form for the Kevin Ryan stable. The mare has finished in the frame of three listed races in a row, the latest at Nottingham over ten furlongs so takes a step back to a more suitable distance. One of a few last time out winners in the field would be James Fanshawe's Pina Sonata. She won a pair of novice contests impressively last season and soon found herself in Group One company in France, where she struggled. She would resume her progress with a listed race win at Kempton and this would be a better gauge of her ability. A representative for Joseph O'Brien would be the mare Princess Child. The five year old has raced in Spain, France and Ireland during her career but landed a career best in a Group Three at Tipperary last August. Her best effort so far this year came in a similar contest to this one when second place in a one-two for the stable. She's Perfect gained plenty of media attention last season following a cruel demotion to second in the French 1000 Guineas and she will now look for compensation this year. Charlie Fellowes's four year old was caught close home in a listed contest at Goodwood where finished third. The sole three year old representative would be the classy Pacific Mission, who carried the silks of Juddmonte for trainer Andrew Balding. After an impressive win on her second start, she improved with each start; culminating with a second at the Breeders' Cup meeting in America last October. That second in Group One company is one of the best pieces of form on display here.

Winner: SPARKS FLY (#1) (Muhaarar x Stepping Out) - L. Pearson - D. Loughnane

The field of fillies would be reduced by one on the morning of the race as Charlie Johnson's Arisaig was deemed a non-runner due to the ground conditions. There would be further drama as Irish raider Princess Child was withdrawn at the start on vetinary advice after receiving a kick from another horse at the starting stalls. 
As the rain continued to pour, the seven fillies would break out of the stalls over the extended one mile trip. Sparks Fly would make the best start of all and found herself in the early lead under Laura Pearson. Love Dynasty took a stumble out of her stall which put her towards the back of the pack, but further ahead, She's Perfect was now pressing Sparks Fly for the early lead. The gallop would be a sensible one for the conditions as Betty Clover and Pina Sonata raced prominently for the first few furlongs. Pacific Mission and the French raider Breckenbrough took up a midfield position with Love Dynasty bringing up the rear as the field began the descent down Tattenham Corner. The famous bend would play a decisive point of the race. As the group straightened up for the home stretch, Laura Pearson stayed on the far side, opting for a solo run on the unfavoured part of the track. The remaining six drifted to the stands side and suddenly there was a split of opinions. Betty Clover led the group on the near side as Pacific Mission moved forward into a share of second with She's Perfect. The grey silks of Love Dynasty faced a wall of horses in front of her as Pina Sonata backtracked rapidly. Over on the far side, Sparks Fly ploughed a lone furrow but appeared to still hold the overall lead. The mid race move by her jockey looked to be inspired as Sparks Fly relished the testing ground and continued to gallop her rivals into submission. The gap would keep on extending in the final furlong as the six year old crossed the line in splendid isolation, some eight and a half lengths clear of her nearest pursuer. The near side group contained more of a race as Love Dynasty stayed on into second, finishing clear of Pacific Mission and Betty Clover who rounded out the frame.
The brilliant story of this homebred mare's career continues to grow as she landed a sixth Pattern race for her connections. The daughter of Muhaarar made her debut over six furlongs in a modest, mid-January maiden contest at Wolverhampton in 2023 where she finished tailed off. That performance was a far cry from where she sits now and her winning streak began later in 2023. She would win eight times in ten starts during a period which saw her rise from class six handicap level to a listed race win in Italy on heavy ground. A year later in 2024, it became apparent that the Autumn was her favourite time of the year as she added three more listed race wins to her CV at Haydock, Saint-Cloud and Nottingham where she beat the future Group One winner Qirat in the process. Last year would see her finish strongly into third in this race on better ground, but she picked up a first Group Three win, once again at her beloved Saint-Cloud racecourse in France. In 2026, she posted a very good effort last time out at Chester in the Huxley Stakes over a mile and a quarter; weakening in the final stages to take fourth behind last year's Derby winner Lambourn and high class Bay City Roller. She is clearly a mud loving mare, but the story of her career will be an inspiration to many smaller scale owners and breeders in years to come. 

Race Three: The Coolmore Coronation Cup - Group One - One Mile, Four Furlongs - Runners: 6
The quality would continue to rise ahead of the big one in just over an hour as the Coronation Cup would join the Derby day support cast. The high class Coronation Cup is often considered as the older horse Derby, given its likeness to the challenging undalations of the Derby, but all the horses who contest this race are four year olds and older. Some of racing's all time greats are found of the hall of fame for this contest, from the past which includes Mill Reef, Roberto, Rainbow Quest, Triptych, Swain, Daylami and Yeats - to the more recent times of triple winner St Nicholas Abbey, Hukum and Ghaiyyath. Twelve months ago would see an epic battle in the final uphill stages as the previous year's St Leger winner Jan Brueghel outstayed Calandagan to win, but the French challenger Calandagan went on to shine on the world stage - winning the Japan Cup later in the year.

The class of 2026 would once again see an outstanding field going to post. Bay City Roller was a very smart juvenile two seasons ago and eventually delivered on the promise last year by winning a German Group One in November. George Scott's four year old has shown he is capable at this stage with two excellent seconds this year. Last year's runner up Calandagan would aim to go one place better this year, but he returns to Epsom as the World's Best Horse. Francis-Henri Graffard's five year old has developed into a superstar, winning the Champions Stakes, Japan Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic of late. The potential new kid on the block is the Karl Burke-trained Convergent. The four year old picked up a couple of lower Group races in Europe last year, but showed his potential for this season with an effortless victory at Newbury in April in the John Porter Stakes. Aidan O'Brien has won this race an imperious ten times since his first in 2005 and the saddle half of the six-strong field, the first them would be the high class Illinois. The St Leger and Ascot Gold Cup runner-up has yet to win at Group One level; despite this, he remains an excellent racehorse. Last year's winner Jan Brueghel put his belt on the line this time around and was very brave to fend off Calandagan twelve months ago. He would overcome health issues during the winter to win at Chester's May meeting, showing his true form with a classy win. The third and final runner for the Ballydoyle battalion would be last year's Epsom Derby hero Lambourn. The four year old led all the way around the Downs to an emphatic success before adding the Irish Derby on his next start. He bounced back after a blip in form to win more comfortably than the margin suggested at Chester last month.

Winner: BAY CITY ROLLER (#1) (New Bay x Bloomfield) - O. Murphy - G. Scott

Race Four: The Betfred "Dash" Handicap - Class Two - Five Furlongs - Runners: 20
After the prestige and excitement of the Coronation Cup and just before the main event of the Derby would be the not-so-small matter of the Epsom Dash handicap. This five furlong contest isn't for the faint hearted and is widely recognised as the fastest horse race in the world. The first four furlongs are all downhill and jockeys need to hold on for dear life as their speedy sprinters charge towards the finish line before the ground rises again in the final furlong. Back in 2012, the winner Stone Of Folca even set a Guiness World Record in this race, stopping the clock at 53.69 seconds - a record that hasn't been surpassed since. The contest remains impossible as ever to predict with good positioning and plenty of luck in running being the keys to success. Last year, JM Jungle would be a classy winner for the John and Sean Quinn stable and went on to win the Group Two King George Stakes at Goodwood a few months later.

Top weight in this skydive sprint would be carried this year by Democracy Dilemma, who has previous form in this contest. Robert Cowell's six year old went very close in this race two years ago, but was a below par seventh last year. The former listed race winner is at his best with an uncontested lead. The Yorkshire challenger Another Baar would line up here for the Adrian Keatley stable for what is his first run sine February. The six year old has gone well at sharp tracks like this in the past and landed a valuable handicap in Bahrain at the start of this year. A second runner from the Robert Cowell would be the equally rapid Lexington Blitz. The four year old is seemingly best of a downhill course like this one, based on the evidence of an easy win at Catterick in October and an impressive success at Goodwood last month. This race has seemingly been his main target. The filly Cindy Lou Who has a very good record at Bath, a similarly speedy track, and she would post a career best at that venue earlier this season when second in listed company. She ran poorly at Newbury last time out and needs to confirm she is as good away from Bath. The bunch of fillies would continue with the Irish runner Eclairage from the Daniel Murphy stable. The four year old hasn't been beaten far in better quality races than this, including a Group Three at Dundalk and was caught on the line on her first start of this season. The four year old Stormy Impact warmed up for this contest twelve months ago by winning the 3-y-o Dash over course and distance at last year's Derby festival. She capitalised on a pace collapse there and this is tougher, so she needs plenty of luck to go her way. As last year's winner JM Jungle showed, a future Group race perform can lurk in these handicaps and that could apply to the filly Kinswoman. William Hagggas's four year old comes from a good family and progressed well last season, winning three times. She was unlucky when second at Yarmouth last time, but it remained a good effort in defeat. King Of Light was recently withdrawn at the start at York, but retains plenty of potential for his new trainer Stuart Williams. The four year old chased home the winner Lexington Blitz at Goodwood on his seasonal comeback, but was held up further back than that rival. The gelding Rogue Enforcer would take his place in the line up and Archie Watson's five year old brought European form to the table. He landed a listed race in Italy on his final start last year, but hasn't made an impression in two start this year for current connections. A speedy sort who will have been aimed at this race is Middleham Park Racing's gelding Ziggy's Triton. The David O'Meara-trained four year old won smartly at Musselburgh in April but has finished in the midfield in a pair of competitive York handicaps of late. Another runner who has improved since joining current connections is Star Chorus, who has won plenty of times on the all-weather. The four year old progressed well either side of the New Year albeit at a much lower level than this. One of the older horses in the line up would be the nine year old Brazen Bolt, another to hail from the North. Ruth Carr's well travelled gelding has retained his enthusiasm even at this stage of his career with two wins during last summer. He went close at Thirsk on his first start of this season and wasn't beaten far at York last month. Tony Carroll is renowned for fast sprinters in this yard and last won this race twelve years ago. This year's representative from the yard would be Betsen, who arrives here on the back of a win. The five year old had been running mostly over six furlongs previously but seemed to enjoy a rare start over this trip to win at Chepstow in good style. Arklow Lad arrived from Ireland at the start of this year and made an instant impact for his owners The Horsewatchers as he won at Chelmsford and Pontefract in the spring. Mick Appleby's four year old continued his good form with a fifth at York last month. Another runner in the pink and green silks of owner Fitri Hay would be Ian Williams's Dyonisos. The former French-trained four year old has seemingly found his feet in the UK recently as he has run well in defeat. He was cruelly caught on the line at Goodwood recently and is another in good form. The eight year old Emperor Spirit has won just a small fraction of his forty career starts, but often finds one or two others too strong. Now with the Michael Keady stable, the veteran posted a better effort when second at Ascot recently. A third runner for the Tony Carroll yard would be a recent former winner of this race, Dream Composer. The eight year old got up in the dying stages to win this in 2024 but finished second last in 2025. He is a rare winner, but did so two starts ago at Ripon in a good contest at the end of April. The "Sprint King" Robert Cowell would have more interest in this race with the experienced Rhythm N Hooves. The six year old has held his form pretty well at a competitive level over the last two seasons, but was another to struggle in this contest twelve months ago. An older horse in the line up who has struggled for form more than others is the Richard and Peter Fahey-trained Vintage Clarets. The seven year old has a liking for Catterick, but his recent performances have left a bit to be desired and he arrives here with questions to answer. An impressive sixth runner for the Robert Cowell stable would be recent winner Almaty Star. The six year old has been a smart type at a lower level, as shown when winning with ease at Yarmouth last time out, but this is his first attempt at a race like this. 

Winner: ARKLOW LAD (#14) (Kuroshio x Ella Fitzgerald) - H. Davies - M. Appleby