Horse Racing Tips
When is the 2026 Epsom Derby? Date, Start Time, Declared Runners And Odds
Everything you need to know about the 2026 renewal of The Derby at Epsom Downs, with William Hill’s informative guide to the Classic.
The Derby at Epsom is still the big one on the Flat calendar, and the 2026 renewal already has the usual mix of history, hype and market chatter around it.
The race lands on a track that asks serious questions of horses, and the early betting points to another strong Ballydoyle hand.
When Is The 2026 Derby At Epsom
The 2026 Derby takes place at Epsom Downs racecourse on Saturday, 6 June, with the race scheduled for 3:30pm.
That keeps it in the prime afternoon slot on ITV Racing, so it is easy enough to build your day around if you are following the action with mates.
How To Watch The Derby
You can watch the Derby live on ITV1 or via the William Hill website if your account meets the conditions required to watch racing online.
Anyone planning to bet on the race should keep the market and the terms in mind before placing a wager. Safer Gambling means knowing your limits, checking any minimum deposit or minimum stake rules, and reading wagering requirements before taking up an offer.
If you need support, visit www.begambleaware.org.
The Epsom Test
The Derby has been run since 1780 and remains the fourth Classic on the British calendar and it will be a huge draw for punters, whether you enjoy putting together a horse racing Bet Builder or merely want to back a runner to win.
Epsom’s undulations and 150-foot elevation make it a very specific test, which is why the race keeps producing surprises even when the favourites look solid on paper.
Aidan O’Brien remains the leading trainer in Derby history after Lambourn gave him an 11th win in the prestigious race, and he is chasing a fourth straight success in the 2026 renewal.
Potential Runners and Riders
There are 22 horses entered for the 2026 Derby ahead of final confirmations and declarations. The final field will be known at 10am on Wednesday 3rd June.
The current list of horses entered for the Epsom Derby is as follows:
- Action
- Alderman
- Amadeus Mozart
- Ancient Egypt
- A Taste Of Glory
- Balzac
- Bay Of Brilliance
- Benvenuto Cellini
- Causeway
- Christmas Day
- Constitution River
- Endorsement
- Hawk Mountain
- Item
- James J Braddock
- Maltese Cross
- Pierre Bonnard
- Poker
- Proposition
- Rebel Rocker
- Saxon Street
- Shosholoza
Derby Odds 2026
At the time of writing, Benvenuto Cellini is the favourite in William Hill’s antepost betting odds for the Derby after a comfortable seasonal return in the Group 3 Chester Vase and he’ll feature on plenty of NAPs table selections come the day if he lines up.
Constitution River sits next in the antepost market after winning the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester, while Item remains a major player after landing the Dante Stakes and beating Action and Christmas Day at York.
A race like this can turn quickly, so the smart move is to follow the final declarations before treating any antepost price as the full story.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
