Epsom Derby Festival 2026: Bet the Oaks and Derby at MyWinners
Two days. Two Group 1 Classics. One racecourse that has been producing unforgettable moments since 1779. The Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom Downs — Oaks Day on Friday June 6, Derby Day on Saturday June 7 — is the biggest weekend in British Flat racing, and MyWinners has pari-mutuel betting on both races.
Both days are full eight-race cards running on Worldpool, meaning you're betting into the same global pools as punters in Hong Kong, Australia, and beyond — and the pools will be massive. Whether you're backing the Ballydoyle machine or hunting a price, here's everything you need before you bet.
- What Is the Epsom Derby Festival?
- Betfred Oaks 2026 Preview — Friday June 6
- Betfred Oaks 2026 — Odds at a Glance
- Oaks Verdict
- Betfred Derby 2026 Preview — Saturday June 7
- Betfred Derby 2026 — Odds at a Glance
- Derby Verdict
- Aidan O'Brien at Epsom: The Numbers
- Why Epsom Is Unlike Anything Else
- Bet the Epsom Derby Festival at MyWinners
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Epsom Derby Festival?
Epsom Downs is a racecourse perched on the North Downs in Surrey, about 15 miles south of central London. Its signature feature is the course itself — a left-handed mile-and-a-quarter loop that climbs uphill from the start, crests at Tattenham Corner roughly five furlongs out, then descends more than 150 feet to the finish on a cambered straight that tilts toward the inside rail the whole way. There is nothing else like it in the world.
The Derby Festival occupies the first full weekend of June each year and centres on two Classic races run over the same course and distance — one mile and four furlongs — on consecutive days. The Oaks, for three-year-old fillies only, goes on Friday. The Derby, open to colts and fillies, goes on Saturday. Both are Group 1 races worth millions in prize money. Both carry weight that lasts a lifetime — a Derby or Oaks win defines a horse's legacy and a trainer's career.
For American racing fans, think of it as the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks compressed into a single epic European weekend — but on a course that punishes heavy favorites and rewards horses with balance and adaptability as much as raw ability.
Betfred Oaks 2026 Preview — Friday June 6
First run in 1779 — a year before the Derby — the Oaks is the oldest of Britain's five Classics and the most prestigious race in the world for three-year-old fillies. Previous winners include Enable, Snowfall, and Ouija Board. The stamina demand at a mile and four furlongs is significant, and Epsom regularly exposes fillies that look unbeatable on paper.
Amelia Earhart — 6/4 Favourite
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien | Jockey: Ryan Moore (expected)
The market leader and O'Brien's nominated Oaks lead, Amelia Earhart is a daughter of Camelot who took the Listed Cheshire Oaks at Chester in May with authority after connections added a hood and blinkers to help her settle. The transformation was immediate — she won going away and O'Brien confirmed the Epsom target straight after. Minnie Hauk did the Cheshire Oaks–Epsom Oaks double last year; the pipeline is proven. Her stamina for a mile and four furlongs is the most convincingly demonstrated of any filly in the field. The knock is that the Cheshire Oaks is only a Listed race, not a Group contest — the form has not been fully tested at the highest level. But the market has backed her consistently and the O'Brien record in this race (11 wins) makes it hard to argue against.
Legacy Link — 5/1
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden | Jockey: Colin Keane
The strongest each-way alternative in the field. Legacy Link won the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York — the same trial that sent Snowfall (2021), Tuesday (2022), and Soul Sister (2023) to Epsom Oaks glory in three consecutive seasons. A Dubawi filly, she fought off Felicitas with real determination in a hard-fought York performance. Gosden won the Oaks with Soul Sister in 2023. Keane is an elite Classic jockey. At 5/1 the Musidora form line and trainer pedigree combine to make her the clear second choice.
Precise — 6/1
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien | Jockey: TBC
O'Brien's second string and the holder of the best formal race credentials in the field after winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh on her most recent start — bouncing back from a flat Newmarket Guineas run to win with a sharp turn of foot. The stamina question is real: she has never raced beyond a mile. But the class is undeniable, and if Ryan Moore chooses her over Amelia Earhart at declarations, the market will move significantly.
Thundering On — 12/1
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien | Jockey: TBC
Trained by Aidan's son Joseph, Thundering On is an improving filly who represents a genuine outside interest at double-figure odds. Connections have specifically targeted this race and she arrives with room to progress.
Cameo — 14/1
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien | Jockey: TBC
A third Ballydoyle runner who adds depth to O'Brien's Oaks hand. Interesting at a price for pedigree players — any O'Brien Epsom runner deserves respect — but well back in the market for good reasons.
Oaks Verdict
Amelia Earhart is the bet. The Cheshire Oaks–Epsom Oaks pipeline is the strongest form guide in the race, her stamina is proven, and O'Brien has won this 11 times. At 6/4 she is a short price, but she is short for good reasons.
Each-way: Legacy Link at 5/1. Three Musidora winners have gone straight to Oaks glory in the last four years. Gosden are proven Classic trainers. Keane is riding. The place returns at 5/1 are excellent value in a wide-open race.
Betfred Oaks 2026 — Odds at a Glance
Betfred Oaks 2026 — Odds at a Glance | Friday June 6, 11:00 AM ET
| Horse | Trainer | Odds | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amelia Earhart | Aidan O'Brien | 6/4 | Cheshire Oaks winner, stamina proven |
| Legacy Link | John & Thady Gosden | 5/1 | Musidora winner — three of last four sent Oaks winner |
| Precise | Aidan O'Brien | 6/1 | Irish 1,000 Guineas winner, stamina unproven at 1m4f |
| Thundering On | Joseph O'Brien | 12/1 | Improving, each-way interest |
| Cameo | Aidan O'Brien | 14/1 | Third Ballydoyle string |
| Venetian Lace | Charlie Johnston | 20/1 | Outsider |
| K Sarra | Ralph Beckett | 25/1 | Outsider |
Odds sourced from Racing Post / Betfred / Oddschecker, June 2 2026. Subject to change. Pari-mutuel pools determine final prices at race time.
Betfred Derby 2026 Preview — Saturday June 7
The 247th running of the Epsom Derby carries a record £2 million prize fund, with the winner banking just under £1 million. Aidan O'Brien goes into the race chasing an unprecedented fourth consecutive win — he has already won it 11 times, a record — but faces a serious English challenge from an unbeaten Juddmonte colt that the market has installed as a genuine rival to Ballydoyle's stranglehold.
Benvenuto Cellini — 7/4 Favourite
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien | Jockey: Ryan Moore
A son of Frankel out of a Galileo mare — almost a blueprint for the Epsom test — Benvenuto Cellini was O'Brien's top-rated juvenile last season, winning the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown before finishing second in the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. He made his 2026 debut at Chester in the Group 3 Chester Vase and cruised home by over four lengths at 2/9 on the clock. O'Brien has been characteristically pointed: 'He looks like one for Epsom. He's a great mover and I think Epsom will suit him.' Ryan Moore rides, which in Ballydoyle shorthand is the biggest possible vote of confidence.
Item — 7/2
Trainer: Andrew Balding | Jockey: Colin Keane
The most compelling non-Ballydoyle Derby story. A Juddmonte-owned son of Frankel trained at Andrew Balding's Kingsclere stable, Item is unbeaten in three starts and won the Dante Stakes at York — historically the most reliable Derby trial — by two and three-quarter lengths from Aidan O'Brien's Action and Christmas Day. He quickened away with ease under Keane, who rode with real confidence. Balding is direct about his improving stamina: 'The further he goes the better he gets.' The single concern is inexperience — Item has only raced three times and Epsom in a large field is a very different test from a small-field trial at York. But the form is the best of any horse in this race outside of the Chester Vase winner, and at 7/2 he represents genuine value against the favourite.
Pierre Bonnard — 7/1
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien | Jockey: TBC
Spent the winter as Derby favourite after winning the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud on his final juvenile start. Flopped badly on reappearance in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown, drifting from 4/1 to 9/1 in the process. O'Brien has since said he is 'a different horse' from that run, and the Camelot pedigree out of a Danehill mare is the ideal profile for Epsom. At 7/1 he is a revival play — interesting each-way for those prepared to take a chance on a return to form.
James J Braddock — 10/1
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien | Jockey: TBC
Caused a significant upset when beating the odds-on Pierre Bonnard in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown, vaulting into Derby contention with a performance that surprised the market. Trained by Aidan's son Joseph — who won the Derby himself as a jockey on Camelot in 2012 — and represents a live each-way chance at double-figure odds.
Action — 20/1
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien | Jockey: TBC
Finished a clear second to Item in the Dante after a modest reappearance. Is a half-brother to last year's Derby winner Lambourn — the same dam, which is a powerful staying influence. O'Brien has confirmed he can take further improvement stepping up to a mile and a half. Each-way interest at 20/1.
Derby Verdict
Item at 7/2 is the value bet. The Dante Stakes is the single most consistent Derby trial in the calendar — Desert Crown (2022) is the most recent winner to follow up at Epsom, and the race reliably identifies the best English stayer of the generation. Item won it in a style that suggested he was well within himself, Balding has specifically flagged his improving profile over longer trips, and Juddmonte do not run horses at Epsom unless they believe they can win.
Each-way: Action at 20/1 is the family connection play — same dam as Lambourn, confirmed improvement expected at a mile and a half, and big enough odds to make the place return attractive if he runs to his best.
Betfred Derby 2026 — Odds at a Glance
Betfred Derby 2026 — Odds at a Glance | Saturday June 7, 10:30 AM ET
| Horse | Trainer | Odds | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benvenuto Cellini | Aidan O'Brien | 7/4 | Chester Vase winner, Ryan Moore confirmed |
| Item | Andrew Balding | 7/2 | Dante Stakes winner, unbeaten in three |
| Pierre Bonnard | Aidan O'Brien | 7/1 | Winter favourite, Leopardstown flop to forget |
| James J Braddock | Joseph O'Brien | 10/1 | Beat Pierre Bonnard at Leopardstown |
| Ancient Egypt | Charlie Johnston | 14/1 | Progressive English raider |
| Maltese Cross | Aidan O'Brien | 17/2 | Ballydoyle depth runner |
| Action | Aidan O'Brien | 20/1 | Half-brother to 2025 winner Lambourn |
| Christmas Day | Aidan O'Brien | 25/1 | Ballydoyle outsider |
Odds sourced from Racing Post / Betfred / Oddschecker, June 2 2026. Subject to change. Pari-mutuel pools determine final prices at race time.
Aidan O'Brien at Epsom: The Numbers
No trainer in the history of the Derby or the Oaks has dominated Epsom the way Aidan O'Brien has in the 21st century. He has won the Derby 11 times — a record — most recently with Lambourn in 2025, Auguste Rodin in 2023, and City of Troy in 2024. He has won the Oaks 11 times, equal record. A fourth consecutive Derby win would be unprecedented in the modern era. He saddles at least four Derby runners and three Oaks runners in 2026 — in Ballydoyle terms, a relatively focused hand.
Why Epsom Is Unlike Anything Else
American racing fans used to Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, or Santa Anita will find Epsom genuinely alien. There is no straight run into the first bend — horses immediately face a left-handed sweeping loop while climbing uphill. By Tattenham Corner, roughly five furlongs out, the field has reached the highest point of the course and begins a sustained descent to the finish. The camber tilts toward the inside rail the entire way down. A horse that cannot balance going downhill will be in trouble regardless of ability — which is why inexperience, as in Item's case, is a legitimate concern even when the form says otherwise.
The going for both race days is forecast Good to Firm, Good in places. Fast conditions. Item's Dante win came on Good to Firm. Benvenuto Cellini's Chester win was on Good ground. Pierre Bonnard's best form has been on softer going — the forecast does not favour him.
Bet the Epsom Derby Festival at MyWinners
MyWinners offers pari-mutuel betting on international horse racing including both Epsom Classics.
Bet online at app.mywinners.com, on the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS or Android, or go here to find your nearest MyWinners or Winners venue in CT.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Epsom Derby Festival is a two-day Group 1 meeting at Epsom Downs in Surrey, England, held on the first Friday and Saturday of June each year. The Betfred Oaks — for three-year-old fillies only — runs on Friday. The Betfred Derby — open to colts and fillies — runs on Saturday. Both are run over one mile and four furlongs on the same unique, undulating course and both count as British Classics.
The Betfred Oaks is on Friday June 6, 2026, with a post time of 4:00 PM UK — approximately 11:00 AM ET. The Betfred Derby is on Saturday June 7, 2026, with a post time of 3:30 PM UK — approximately 10:30 AM ET. Betting at MyWinners opens ahead of both races.
Benvenuto Cellini, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, heads the Derby market at 7/4. The Frankel colt won the Chester Vase in May and O'Brien has confirmed Epsom as his primary target. His main rival is Andrew Balding's unbeaten Dante Stakes winner Item, currently priced at 7/2.
Amelia Earhart, also trained by Aidan O'Brien, heads the Oaks market at 6/4. The Camelot filly won the Cheshire Oaks at Chester in May and has been specifically targeted at Epsom by connections. Her main rival is John and Thady Gosden's Musidora Stakes winner Legacy Link at 5/1.
Yes. MyWinners offers pari-mutuel betting on international horse racing including both Epsom Classics. Bet online at app.mywinners.com, download the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS or Android, or visit your nearest Winners venue in Connecticut. You must be 18 or older to bet.
In pari-mutuel wagering, all bets on each outcome are pooled together. After the track's takeout is deducted, the remaining pool is divided among winning tickets. This means the final odds are determined by how money is distributed across all runners — not fixed in advance by a bookmaker. The odds shown before the race are estimates only and will shift up to post time.
No trainer has won the Derby four consecutive times in the modern era. Aidan O'Brien has won it a record 11 times in total, including three in a row with Auguste Rodin (2023), City of Troy (2024), and Lambourn (2025). A fourth straight win in 2026 would be unprecedented.
Both races are Group 1 Classics run at Epsom Downs over one mile and four furlongs on consecutive days. The key difference is eligibility: the Derby is open to both colts and fillies, while the Oaks is restricted to fillies only. Both carry equal prestige and their winners are considered among the best three-year-olds in the world.
Image 1 © monkeywing / Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Image 2 © monkeywing / Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
