Why it is hard to work out the value of the topsy-turvy Derby form despite Delacroix's recent exploits

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The contrasting fates this weekend of Lambourn and Delacroix prompted me to go back and look again at the result of this year's Derby and see how the form has played out. I'm afraid it looks neither completely reliable nor bursting with quality. Here are the runners in finishing order, along with their subsequent achievements:

1st Lambourn

WON Irish Derby, unplaced Voltigeur and St Leger

Things are going the wrong way for Lambourn, who on Saturday became the first Derby winner since 1969 to run in the St Leger without starting favourite. Excuses were offered for his tame defeat at York but we need some more after he was clearly in trouble at the three pole at Doncaster. As suggested by James Willoughby over the weekend, he could be worth trying at a shorter distance, having finished weakly in his last two starts. It looks like he was well suited by the way the Derby was run and has found that result hard to repeat but it would be a real shame if he can't get another success somewhere.

2nd Lazy Griff

Third Irish Derby

Lazy Griff (far): was recently ruled out for the rest of the seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

What a pity that this syndicate-owned horse suffered a setback a week before the St Leger and is now thought likely to be out for the season. He was placed behind Lambourn in all three starts this year, at Chester, Epsom and the Curragh and seemed sure to be suited by a step up in trip at Doncaster. Instead, it looks like his final run of 2025 was in late June, when he was one of the first in trouble in the Irish Derby but stayed on powerfully when it was too late. Hopefully, he can find some success next year. 

3rd Tennessee Stud

Fourth Irish Derby, fourth Prix Niel

A step up in trip seems indicated for Joseph O'Brien's horse, who has looked short of pace in two subsequent races at 1m4f. He stayed on dourly up the rail to nick third at Epsom, doing best of those to come off the pace, but hasn't won since a 1m2f juvenile race at Saint-Cloud at the end of last year. Entered in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day.

4th New Ground

Third Grand Prix de Paris, third Grand Prix de Deauville

Readers may recall me being quite excited about this one, who did a lot wrong in the Derby but stayed on well into fourth. But he continues to race much too freely and it undermines his finishing efforts. He's still in the Arc but looks a hopeless case at this stage.

5th Stanhope Gardens 

Fifth Sky Bet York Stakes

Stanhope Gardens (left): could be in action at Ayr this weekendCredit: Edward Whitaker

Faded into a slightly disappointing fifth in late July, his only run since the Derby. Reportedly in good form and could go for the Doonside Cup at Ayr on Saturday.

6th Tornado Alert 

2nd Hampton Court Stakes, WON Bayerisches Zuchtrennen 

Seemed not to stay 1m4f but has done well in two subsequent starts at 1m2f, including a Group 1 win in Munich in late July. Entered in the Champion Stakes.

7th Green Storm

Fifth King Edward VII Stakes

Ran on well at Royal Ascot, then sold to race in Qatar for 380,000gns.

8th Nightime Dancer

2nd Bahrain Trophy, 4th Geoffrey Freer

Didn't see which way Scandinavia went at Newmarket. Switch to front-running didn't help at Newbury.

9th Delacroix

Delacroix: has very much put his Epsom run behind himCredit: Patrick McCann

WON Eclipse, 2nd Juddmonte International, WON Irish Champion

What a disappointing effort this was at Epsom for a horse sent off 2-1 favourite after winning the Ballysax and the Leopardstown Derby Trial. He never got into the argument after being shuffled back to the rear at an early stage and probably didn't stay 1m4f. Subsequent events show him to be the major top-class talent in the field. Well done if you saw that coming!

10th Midak

Unraced since

Midak has not been seen in public since June. Entered in the Arc but ineligible after being gelded in July.

11th Sea Scout

Sixth Hampton Court, 4th Prix Nureyev, 3rd Prix Turenne

Only caught close home when trying to make all in France last time. Arc entry.

12th Nightwalker

Sixth King Edward VII, 3rd Listed race, fourth Ascot handicap

A gelding operation has allowed him to show more in his last two starts than in the Derby. Entered in the Old Rowley Cup next month.

13th Rogue Impact 

Three handicap runs, no wins

Beaten a neck at Thirsk off a rating of 86, his best effort.

14th The Lion In Winter

Third Prix Jean Prat, last of 10 Marois, third Prix du Moulin

Fancied at Epsom, despite Dante defeat, but never got into it. Dropping in trip has helped, though he's 0/5 for the year.

15th Al Wasl Storm

12th Queen's Vase, WON Newbury handicap

16th Tuscan Hills 

Unraced since

17th Pride Of Arras

Pride Of Arras: returned to his best at York last timeCredit: Edward Whitaker

10th Irish Derby, WON Great Voltigeur

After an 18-1 Dante victory, was bitterly disappointing in Derbys at Epsom and the Curragh but a gelding operation got him back on track. Probably also appreciated the return to York last month. 

18th Damysus

WON Prix Nureyev

Another one to let down the Dante form at Epsom, he was given two months off and then stepped down in trip for a Listed prize at Deauville over 1m2f. Arc entry but lots of other options.

It felt like a weird Derby at the time, with three of the four most fancied horses completely failing to give their running. So perhaps it's no surprise that the form hasn't worked out brilliantly. 

Lambourn's scrambled success in the Irish Derby has been the only win achieved by any of the first five in this year's Derby, and he has since become disappointing. Meanwhile, three of the last four to finish have won races, including a Group 2 and a Listed prize.

Delacroix and The Lion In Winter were beaten out of sight at Epsom but both have since re-established themselves.

It looks like a one-off race, a consequence of its unique conditions. One would like to be able to put faith in the Derby form each year but it remains the case that few things are so forgivable as a bad run around Epsom.

Read these next:

Back from a heart attack at 57 to win on a horse who 'wouldn't get the trip in a horsebox' - what a legend!  

Tom Marquand 'blessed' to ride St Leger hero Scandinavia as O'Brien supersub revels in deafening Doncaster atmosphere  

'He has the right attributes' - Al Riffa rockets to Melbourne Cup favouritism with smooth success in Irish St Leger  

The Front Runner is our unmissable email newsletter available exclusively to Racing Post+ subscribers. Chris Cook provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Racing Post+ subscriber? Join today and also receive our Ultimate Daily emails plus our full range of fantastic website and newspaper content.