Pierre Bonnard heads into Sunday’s Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial at Leopardstown with Aidan O’Brien urging observers not to lose faith in a colt who was one of last season’s more highly regarded juveniles.
Pierre Bonnard Looking To Bounce Back Into Epsom Derby Picture
The Camelot colt Pierre Bonnard will try to bounce back from a below-par seasonal debut in the Ballysax Stakes, where he finished well beaten after beginning the spring near the head of ante-post Derby discussion.
As he tackles Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday.
With the Group 3 now offering a direct opportunity to restore momentum in a recognised Epsom trial.
Despite that defeat Pierre Bonnard is still around 8/1 in the Epsom Derby betting odds market.
With his stablemate Benvenuto Cellini heading the betting at 5/2 after his impressive Chester Vase win last midweek.
Ballydoyle Colt Returns to a Key Trial Stage
Pierre Bonnard ended his two-year-old season by winning the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket and the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, form that made him one of Ballydoyle’s more talked-about middle-distance prospects through the winter.
However, his comeback run did not go to plan, but Racing TV quoted O’Brien as saying the colt was entitled to improve sharply for the outing and that the team expects him to leave that effort behind back at Leopardstown.
With the confirmed Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial runners from the wider O’Brien family, with Endorsement, Straight Up, James J Braddock and Shaihaan all part of the same small but informative field.
Pierre Bonnard has been put in as the Evs favourite for Sunday’s race.
Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Runners
- Pierre Bonnard Evs
- Endorsement 16/5
- Shaihaan 4/1
- James J Braddock 9/1
- Straight Up 30/1
Sunday Race Can Reshape the Derby Conversation
If Pierre Bonnard wins well, he moves back into serious Epsom calculations.
If he does not, the balance of evidence around Ballydoyle’s Derby pecking order will shift again after a week in which Benvenuto Cellini and Constitution River have already advertised their own credentials at Chester last week.
The last horse to land the Leopardstown Derby Trial and win the Epsom Derby was High Chaparral in 2022 – with Sindar in 2000 and Galileo 2001 before him.
Epsom Derby Betting Odds
- Benvenuto Cellini 11/4 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Constitution River 8/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Pierre Bonnard 7/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Christmas Day 12/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Hawk Mountain 12/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Water To Wine 12/1 (John & Thady Gosden)
- Maltese Cross 20/1 (William Haggas)
- Saxon Street 20/1 (John & Thady Gosden)
- Ancient Egypt 25/1 (Charlie Johnston)
- Morshdi 25/1 (William Haggas)
- Puerto Rico 25/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Action 33/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Endorsement 33/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Item 33/1 (Andrew Balding)
- Maho Bay 33/1 (Charlie Appleby)
- Causeway 40/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Del Maro 50/1 (Charlie Appleby)
- 50/1 BAR
Note: Epsom Derby betting odds 2026 are subject to change and others on request.
