THE £1.5 million Cazoo Derby is just a few weeks away and the field is starting to take shape.
Huge crowds of 125,000 people flock to Epsom Downs each year on the first Saturday in June for the glamorous fixture, with the Derby the most prestigious of the five Classic races.
Adayar won the Epsom Derby last season
At the first scratchings deadline 93 entries were cut down to 43, with the next deadline on May 17 before the five-day confirmation stage on May 30.
Last year, the race was won by 16-1 shot Adayar for jockey Adam Kirby and trainer Charlie Appleby.
It was Appleby’s second success in the race in the last four years, after Masar’s Epsom romp back in 2018.
Epsom Derby 2022: Date and start time
The Derby will be held at Epsom Downs racecourse in Surrey on Saturday, June 4.
The race is due off at 4.30pm, with the first race on the card scheduled for 2pm.
The opening day of the two-day Derby meeting is on Friday, June 3.
The feature race on day one is the Oaks, which is a Classic race run over the same course and distance as the Derby, but for three-year-old fillies.
Who can run in the Epsom Derby?
The race is restricted to three-year-old colts and fillies.
It is very rare for fillies to run in the race, with the vast majority of them running in the Oaks 24 hours earlier, but six fillies have won the Derby in the past. The most recent was Fifinella in 1916.
Geldings cannot run in the race.
How can I watch the Epsom Derby?
The Derby will be live on ITV, with the first race due off at 2pm.
The Derby meeting will also be live on Racing TV.
How much is the Epsom Derby worth?
The Derby at present is the most valuable race in the UK.
It is worth a cool £1.5 million, with £850,000 to the winner.
Even the horse finishing sixth will scoop over £20,000.
What are the latest betting odds?
2-1 Luxembourg
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
5-1 New London
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
10-1 Walk Of Stars
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
12-1 Piz Badile
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
16-1 Point Lonsdale
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
The last five Epsom Derby winners
2021 – Adayar (Trainer: Charlie Appleby. Jockey: Adam Kirby)
2020 – Serpentine (Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Jockey: Emmet McNamara)
2019 – Anthony Van Dyck (Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Jockey: Seamie Heffernan)
2018 – Masar (Trainer: Charlie Appleby. Jockey: William Buick)
2017 – Wings Of Eagles (Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Jockey: Padraig Beggy)
