Irish Derby 2025: History, Trends, Recent Winners & Prize Money

First run in 1866, the Irish Derby at the Curragh is one of the world’s most prestigious horse races, an event which regularly attracts the top horses from England and France as well as from home.

The roll of honour for the Irish Derby is simply a who’s who of iconic names from racing history.

Bet on the 2025 Irish Derby at William Hill.

Horses such as Ballymoss, Nikinsky, Shergar, El Gran Senor, and more recently Montjeu, Sinndar and Galileo, have their names permanently etched on the Curragh Racecourse history boards.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien has developed a real knack for producing winners of this race. Since 1997 he has secured a record breaking 16 victories, a record no other trainer even comes close to.

When Is The Irish Derby 2025?

Scheduled to go off at 4.10pm on Sunday 29th June 2025, the Irish Derby is one of the feature races of the weekend.

How Much Prize Money For Winning The Irish Derby?

According to figures via Irish Racing, winning connections will receive €725,000 for finishing first in the 2025 Irish Derby – you can see the complete prize money breakdown below:

• 1st – €725,000
• 2nd – €250,000
• 3rd – €125,000
• 4th – €62,500
• 5th – €37,500
• 6th – €25,000
• 7th – €12,500
• 8th – €12,500

Fact File:

• Group/Class: Group One
• Distance: One Mile and Four Furlongs
• Age: Three year olds only
• Winning Prize Money: €725,000

Irish Derby Trends & Statistics

• Group Wins: 9/12 winners had at least one win in a Group 1-3 race.

• Season Form: 11/12 winners had at least two runs that season, 10/12 winners had at least one win that season.

• Age: Three-year-olds only.

• Starting Price: 6/12 winners were favourites, 9/12 winners came from the top three in the betting.

• Last Run: 6/12 winners won on their last run before the Irish Derby, 12/12 winners had their last run within the last 29 days. 9/12 winners ran in the Derby on their last run, 3/9 won, four of them placed.

• Course Form: 6/12 winners had at least one previous run at the Curragh, 4/12 winners had at least one previous win at the Curragh.

• Distance Form: 10/12 winners had at least one previous run over 12 furlongs, 4/12 winners had at least one previous win over 12 furlongs.

• Rating : 9/12 winners had a rating of 111 or higher.

Fate Of The Favourites

Over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Sovereign in 2019, who won at odds of 33/1 in the horse racing betting. Over that same time period, there have been 10 winning favourites in the race.

Recent Irish Derby Winners

• 2024: Los Angeles – Ryan Moore / Aidan O’Brien (13/8)
• 2023: Auguste Rodin – Ryan Moore / Aidan O’Brien (4/11)
• 2022: Westover – Colin Keane / Ralph Beckett (11/8)
• 2021: Hurricane Lane – William Buick / Charlie Appleby (4/1)
• 2020: Santiago – Seamie Heffernan / Aidan O’Brien (2/1)
• 2019: Sovereign – Padraig Beggy / Aidan O’Brien (33/1)
• 2018: Latrobe – Donnacha O’Brien / Joseph O’Brien (14/1)
• 2017: Capri – Seamie Heffernan / Aidan O’Brien (6/1)
• 2016: Harzand – Pat Smullen / Dermot Weld (4/6)
• 2015: Jack Hobbs – William Buick / John Gosden (10/11)
• 2014: Australia – Joseph O’Brien / Aidan O’Brien

*Odds subject to change – prices correct at time of writing*