Thursday, 5 March, 2020 – A total of 139 horses (up from 96 at the same stage in 2019) remain engaged for the 2020 Investec Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 6, following the first scratchings deadline, details of which are revealed today.

The 241st running of the premier Classic takes place on the second day of the Investec Derby Festival and carries a total prize fund of at least £1.5 million, making it the most valuable race run in Britain.

Those remaining in the race were all entered as yearlings in December 2018. There is a £9,000 second entry stage on Tuesday, 7 April and an £85,000 supplementary entry stage on Monday, 1 June.

Aidan O’Brien registered a record-equalling seventh Investec Derby victory in 2019, courtesy of Anthony Van Dyck, and Ireland’s multiple champion trainer has 47 entries going forward as he chases an unprecedented eighth success in the 12-furlong showpiece.

O’Brien’s formidable team includes Innisfree, Year Of The Tiger and Mogul, who filled the places in that order behind Kameko (Andrew Balding) in the rearranged G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Newcastle in November. The G1 National Stakes runner-up Armory and G2 Royal Lodge Stakes victor Royal Dornoch are also engaged for the Ballydoyle trainer.

The total number of entries trained by the O’Brien family stands at 55, with four entries each for Aidan O’Brien’s sons Joseph, who rode Camelot (2012) and Australia (2014) to Investec Derby success, and Donnacha, who landed the 2018 Investec Oaks on Forever Together and commenced his training career at the end of 2019. 

Godolphin’s Pinatubo (Charlie Appleby) is the 7/1 favourite with Unibet, official betting partner of the Investec Derby Festival, although he does not currently hold an entry.

The Shamardal colt carried all before him in five starts last season, with his winning streak headlined by a memorable nine-length victory in the G1 National Stakes at the Curragh in September – a performance that earned him the highest two-year-old rating for 25 years.

Britain’s champion trainer John Gosden, successful with Benny The Dip (1997) and Golden Horn (2015), has the hugely exciting Waldkonig among his 16 contenders. A half-brother to last year’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist, the Kingman colt could not have been more impressive on debut at Wolverhampton in December. Gosden’s team also features Newmarket maiden winner Tuscan Gaze and Darain, who is an unraced full brother to multiple G1 scorer Too Darn Hot.

Sir Michael Stoute enjoyed the most recent of his five Investec Derby triumphs in 2010 with Workforce. The Newmarket handler’s four entries are led by unbeaten pair Highest Ground and Satono Japan, who made eye-catching debuts at Leicester and Kempton Park respectively at the backend of last season.

Hughie Morrison has two promising colts in Starcat and Kipps. The former won a well-contested novice race first time out at Kempton Park on 11 December, while the latter was off the mark at the second attempt in a similar contest over 10 furlongs at Lingfield Park on 28 December.

Morrison said: “Starcat and Kipps are two nice horses.

“Starcat won nicely on his debut at Kempton. I am not sure he is a horse who will stay a mile and a half, but hopefully he has a nice future ahead of him.

“Kipps is a lovely horse and I was pleased with his victory last time out. He could potentially head for the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom in April as a starting point. He looks exciting as he should enjoy that trip.

“Both horses are working well and hopefully they can have a good campaign.”

The three fillies going forward include Do You Love Me (Karl Burke), who is an unraced full sister to 2018 Investec Oaks heroine Forever Together and cost €3.2 million at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2018.

Investec Derby – Unibet prices (italics not currently entered):

7/1 Pinatubo

12/1 Mogul, Kameko

14/1 Waldkonig

16/1 Military March

20/1 Innisfree, Palace Pier

25/1 Armory, Year Of The Tiger

33/1 Al Suhail, Brentford Hope, Convict, Enemy, Highest Ground, Iberia, Lope Y Fernandez, Max Vega, Persia, Royal Dornoch, Tuscan Gaze

40/1 Cape Palace, Choctaw Ridge, Darain, Gauntlet, Khaloosy, Mythical, Silver Fox, Starcat, Thunderous

50/1 Amhran Na Bhfiann, Arrow of Gold, Byzantine Empire, Cabot Hills, Caldwell, Celtic High King, Chachnak, Ciel d'Afrique, Copper Point, Do You Love Me, Greek Gladiator, Harakann, Keats, Khabaab, Kipling, Monarch Of Egypt, Napa Valley, Nobel Prize, Numen, Order Of Australia, Palm Beach, Ramesses The Great, Royal Lytham, Santiago, Satono Japan, Star Of Juniper, Taqareer, Vatican City

66/1 Al Aasy, Almighwar, Arthurs Kingdom, Blow Your Horn, Colonize, Coventry, Cozone, Dawn Rising, Daylight Come, Dune of Pilat, Emperor Of The Sun, English King, First Receiver, Fiscal Rules, Grand Bazaar, Grand Rock, Hukum, King Fairy, Law Of One, Lost Eden, My Oberon, Nasraawy, Noonday Gun, Robert Walpole, Russian Emperor, San Pedro, Sherpa, Sky Commander, Thames River, The Boatman, Tiger Moth, To Nathaniel, Toronto, Ursa Minor, Yankee Stadium

80/1 Desert Emperor, Mark of Gold

100/1 Al Zaraqaan, Berkshire Rocco, Bodyline, Cormorant, Count of Amazonia, Dawn Patrol, Delphi, Dream With Me, Father of Jazz, Flying Scotsman, HMS President, Hootton, Jacksonian, Khalifa Sat, Kipps, Luncies, Maori Knight, Matthew Flinders, Memorabilis, Monument Valley, Mr G, Mr Tambourine Man, Papa Power, Postileo, Retrospect, Serpentine, Shoshone Warrior, Solar Screen, Sunchart, Tammani, Taramansour, Thank You Power

The Seventh Day, Thumur, Tyson Fury, Valyrian Steel, Victory Road, Vintage Rascal, War Cross

125/1 Emaraty Hero

150/1 Nova Roma, Paradiso, Port Lockroy, Sheer Bravado, Stepney Causeway, Verdon Gorge

200/1 Incendiere, Louve, Moomba, Nevendon, Pharoah King

250/1 Eaglesglen

 

THE INVESTEC DERBY

G1, £1,500,000 total prize fund. For three-year-old colts and fillies. 1m 4f 6y, Epsom Downs, Saturday, 6 June. Weights: colts 9st, fillies 8st 11lb. Horses will only be eligible to run in this race provided that they have a current BHA Handicap Rating of 80 or higher at midday of the confirmation stage. Horses who do not qualify for a rating may also be eligible providing the BHA Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including the day before confirmation merit a provisional assessment of 80 or higher. Horses who have not run will not be eligible. Entries closed 4 December, 2018 (356 entries), first scratchings deadline 3 March (139 remain), £9,000 second entries close 7 April, second scratchings deadline 19 May, five-day confirmations & £85,000 supplementary stage 1 June. Final declarations 4 June.

Horse	Owner	Trainer
Al Aasy (IRE)	Hamdan Al Maktoum	William Haggas
Al Zaraqaan	Hamdan Al Maktoum	William Haggas
Almighwar	Hamdan Al Maktoum	John Gosden
Amhran Na Bhfiann (IRE)	Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Armory (IRE)	Derrick Smith	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Arrow of Gold (IRE)	Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum	Kevin Ryan
Arthur's Kingdom (IRE)	Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Berkshire Rocco (FR)	Berkshire Parts & Panels Ltd	Andrew Balding
Blow Your Horn (IRE)	Anthony Oppenheimer	Charlie Fellowes
Bodyline (IRE)	Tim Bunting - Osborne House IV	Sir Mark Prescott Bt
Byzantine Empire	Rachel Hood	John Gosden
Cabot Hills (IRE)	Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor	Donnacha O'Brien IRE
Caldwell	Khalid Abdullah	Dermot Weld IRE
Cape Palace	Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum	John Gosden
Celtic High King (IRE)	Michael Tabor	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Chachnak (FR)	Ecurie La Vallee Martigny Earl	Fabrice Vermeulen FR
Choctaw Ridge (IRE)	Derrick Smith	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Ciel d'Afrique (IRE)	Moyglare Stud Farms Ltd	Dermot Weld IRE
Colonize	Prince A A Faisal	John Gosden
Convict	Brian Haggas	William Haggas
Copper Point (IRE)	Godolphin	John Gosden
Cormorant (IRE)	Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Count of Amazonia (IRE)	Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum	Richard Hannon
Coventry (IRE)	Tabor/Smith/Sue Magnier/Flaxman Stables	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Cozone	John Connolly & Odile Griffith	Amanda Perrett
Darain	Qatar Racing Ltd and Watership Down Stud	John Gosden
Dawn Patrol (IRE)	Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Dawn Rising (IRE)	Derrick Smith	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Daylight Come (IRE)	Jackie Bolger	Jim Bolger IRE
Delphi (IRE)	Derrick Smith	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Desert Emperor	Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum	Roger Varian
Do You Love Me (IRE)	Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited	Karl Burke
Dream With Me (IRE)	Saeed Suhail	Mark Johnston
Dune of Pilat (FR)	Sun Bloodstock SARL	Joseph O'Brien IRE
Eaglesglen	Tony Elliott	Tom Clover
Emaraty Hero	Ahmad Al Shaikh	Karl Burke
Emperor of The Sun (IRE)	Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor	Donnacha O'Brien IRE
Enemy	Qatar Racing Ltd & Lady O'Reilly	John Gosden
English King (FR)	Bjorn Nielsen	Ed Walker
Father of Jazz	Bill & Tim Gredley	Michael Bell
First Receiver	The Queen	Sir Michael Stoute
Fiscal Rules (IRE)	Jackie Bolger	Jim Bolger IRE
Flying Scotsman (IRE)	J P McManus	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Gauntlet (IRE)	Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Grand Bazaar	Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum	John Gosden
Greek Gladiator (IRE)	Michael Tabor	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Harakann (IRE)	HH Aga Khan	Michael Halford IRE
Highest Ground (IRE)	Niarchos Family	Sir Michael Stoute
HMS President (IRE)	HP Racing HMS President	Eve Johnson Houghton
Hootton (FR)	Ecurie Normandy Spirit	Fabrice Vermeulen FR
Hukum (IRE)	Hamdan Al Maktoum	Owen Burrows
Iberia (IRE)	Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Incendiere (IRE)	Ecuries Serge Stempniak	Fabrice Vermeulen FR
Innisfree (IRE)	Derrick Smith/Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Annemarie O'Brien	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Jacksonian	Khalid Abdullah	Ralph Beckett
Kameko (USA)	Qatar Racing Limited	Andrew Balding
Keats (IRE)	Michael Tabor	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Khabaab (IRE)	Godolphin	Saeed bin Suroor
Khalifa Sat (IRE)	Ahmad Al Shaikh	Andrew Balding
Khaloosy (IRE)	Hamdan Al Maktoum	Roger Varian
King Fairy (IRE)	Sunderland Holding Inc	William Haggas
Kipling (IRE)	Michael Tabor	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Kipps (IRE)	M Kerr-Dineen, M Hughes & W Eason	Hughie Morrison
Law of One (IRE)	Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd	Sir Michael Stoute
Lope Y Fernandez (IRE)	Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Lost Eden (IRE)	Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum	Richard Hannon
Louve	R Dupuy-Naulot	Fabrice Vermeulen FR
Luncies	Bill & Tim Gredley	Simon Crisford
Maori Knight (IRE)	White Beech Farm	Richard Hughes
Mark of Gold	Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum	Richard Hannon
Matthew Flinders	S Stuckey	Ed Walker
Memorabilis (IRE)	Michael Tabor	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Mogul	Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Monarch of Egypt (USA)	Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Monument Valley (IRE)	Derrick Smith	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Moomba (IRE)	Benny Andersson	Amanda Perrett
Mr G	Hussain Alabbas Lootah	William Haggas
Mr Tambourine Man (IRE)	Derrick Smith	Aidan O'Brien IRE
My Oberon (IRE)	Sunderland Holding Inc	William Haggas
Mythical (FR)	Derrick Smith	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Napa Valley (IRE)	Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Nasraawy (USA)	Hamdan Al Maktoum	John Gosden
Nevendon	Bill & Tim Gredley	Michael Bell
Nobel Prize (IRE)	Derrick Smith	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Noonday Gun	Rockcliffe Stud	Richard Hannon
Nova Roma	Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum	John Gosden
Numen (IRE)	Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Order of Australia (IRE)	Derrick Smith/Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Annemarie O'Brien	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Palm Beach (IRE)	Derrick Smith	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Papa Power	King Power Racing Co Ltd	Andrew Balding
Paradiso (IRE)	Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Persia (IRE)	Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Pharoah King (USA)	Qatar Racing Limited	John Gosden
Port Lockroy (FR)	Annemarie O’Brien	Joseph O'Brien IRE
Postileo (IRE)	Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum	Roger Varian
Ramesses The Great (USA)	Michael Tabor	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Retrospect (IRE)	Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum	Roger Varian
Robert Walpole	Bill and Tim Gredley	George Scott
Royal Dornoch (IRE)	Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Royal Lytham (FR)	Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Russian Emperor (IRE)	Atlantic Jewel Syndicate	Aidan O'Brien IRE
San Pedro (IRE)	Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Santiago (IRE)	Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Satono Japan (JPN)	Satomi Horse Company Ltd	Sir Michael Stoute
Serpentine (IRE)	Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Sheer Bravado (IRE)	Jackie Bolger	Jim Bolger IRE
Sherpa (IRE)	Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Sue Magnier/Annemarie O'Brien	Donnacha O'Brien IRE
Shoshone Warrior (IRE)	Sue Magnier	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Silver Fox (IRE)	Michael Tabor	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Sky Commander (IRE)	Saeed Manana	James Tate
Solar Screen (IRE)	Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum	Roger Varian
Star of Juniper (JPN)	Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith	Donnacha O'Brien IRE
Starcat	Martin Hughes & Michael Kerr-Dineen	Hughie Morrison
Stepney Causeway	Bill and Tim Gredley	Michael Bell
Sunchart	P Garvey	Andrew Slattery IRE
Tammani	Prince A A Faisal	William Haggas
Taqareer (IRE)	Hamdan Al Maktoum	John Gosden
Taramansour (IRE)	HH Aga Khan	Dermot Weld IRE
Thames River	Sun Bloodstock SARL	Joseph O'Brien IRE
Thank You Power (IRE)	King Power Racing Co Ltd	David Elsworth
The Boatman (IRE)	Derrick Smith	Aidan O'Brien IRE
The Seventh Day (IRE)	Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum	Richard Hannon
Thumur (USA)	Hamdan Al Maktoum	Owen Burrows
Thunderous (IRE)	Highclere T'Bred Racing - George Stubbs	Mark Johnston
Tiger Moth (IRE)	Derrick Smith	Aidan O'Brien IRE
To Nathaniel	George Strawbridge	John Gosden
Toronto (IRE)	Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Tuscan Gaze (IRE)	Lady Bamford, Magnier, Smith & Tabor	John Gosden
Tyson Fury	Balasuriya,Cook,Cunningham,Gowing,Spencer	Richard Spencer
Ursa Minor (IRE)	Godolphin	John Gosden
Valyrian Steel (IRE)	HH SH Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa	Roger Varian
Vatican City (IRE)	Michael Tabor	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Verdon Gorge (IRE)	Sun Bloodstock SARL	Joseph O'Brien IRE
Victory Road (IRE)	Annemarie O’Brien	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Vintage Rascal (FR)	Charlie Rosier & Mrs Julia Rosier	Tom Ward
Waldkonig	Gestut Ammerland & Newsells Park Stud	John Gosden
War Cross (USA)	Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited	Ed Vaughan
Yankee Stadium (IRE)	Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Moyglare Stud Farm	Aidan O'Brien IRE
Year of The Tiger (IRE)	Smith/Sue Magnier/Tabor/Flaxman Stables	Aidan O'Brien IRE

139 entries remain following 3 March scratchings deadline

63 Irish-trained

4 French-trained

 

About Epsom Downs Racecourse & the Investec Derby Festival

Epsom Downs Racecourse is situated on the North Downs in Surrey, some 15 miles from central London.

Epsom is a historic training centre and home to a number of racing stables.

The racecourse is the venue for the Greatest Flat Race in the World, the Group One Investec Derby, run for the 241st time in 2020, which takes place on the first Saturday in June and is Britain's richest race.

The Investec Derby Festival also features the Investec Oaks and the Investec Coronation Cup, both also run over the Derby course of one mile and four furlongs for three-year-old fillies and older horses respectively, on Investec Ladies' Day.

The Investec Derby and Investec Oaks, two of the five British Classics, are for three-year-olds, with the former open to colts and fillies and the latter to fillies.

Investec started sponsoring the Investec Derby Festival in 2009 and will continue to back the great event until 2026.

The 2020 Investec Derby Festival is staged on Friday and Saturday, June 5 & June 6. More information is available at:  https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/epsom

Epsom Downs is part of The Jockey Club which has been at the heart of British racing for more than 260 years and stages thrilling sporting occasions including The Randox Health Grand National, The Festival™ presented by Magners and The Investec Derby.

Millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences The Jockey Club offers through racing, music, food and entertainment.

Governed by Royal Charter, every penny made goes back into British Racing to help the sport thrive.

The Jockey Club was founded in 1750 and today is the largest commercial group in Britain's second-biggest spectator sport, operating 15 racecourses nationwide, The National Stud, Jockey Club Estates, Jockey Club Catering, Jockey Club Live and the charity, Racing Welfare.