Aidan O’Brien has sharpened the early Ballydoyle picture for Epsom by confirming Benvenuto Cellini remains his leading Betfred Derby candidate while insisting Pierre Bonnard is still firmly in the mix – however, suggested Constitution River may be steered toward the Prix du Jockey Club in France.
Benvenuto Cellini Still Sets the Standard Inside Ballydoyle
The Racing TV’s latest Aidan O’Brien stable tour, published on Sunday, May 17, placed Benvenuto Cellini at the head of O’Brien’s current Derby squad.
The trainer said the Chester Vase winner had always looked a mile-and-a-half horse with class through a race and added that the team “couldn’t be happier” with what he showed at Chester.
“We always felt Benvenuto was a mile and a half horse that could get away with a mile and a quarter, but we never felt he was a Leger horse.” Said O’Brien
“We always felt he was a very high cruiser with a lot of class through a race and that’s what he showed at Chester, so yeah, we couldn’t be happier with what he did”
That matches the shape of the wider trial picture.
Sporting Life’s post-Dante analysis said Benvenuto Cellini now looks Ballydoyle’s number one for Epsom after the York result shifted attention back toward the Chester form line.
The same piece noted that, even with Derby momentum moving in his direction, O’Brien had not abandoned faith in his other leading colts.
Pierre Bonnard Derby Bid Alive as Constitution River Leans Toward Chantilly
The most important fresh detail from the stable tour was O’Brien’s refusal to downgrade Pierre Bonnard after his recent second at Leopardstown in the Derby Trial (watch below).
He said the colt had made a “big jump forward” from his previous run, still had room for more improvement and remained the type Ballydoyle had long viewed as an Epsom horse.
O’Brien also gave a clearer steer on Constitution River.
After his Dee Stakes win, the trainer said the colt could stay further but was “probably favouring the French over Epsom”.
Mainly because Benvenuto Cellini and Pierre Bonnard were already prominent in the home team’s Derby plans.
However, that does not rule Epsom out entirely, but it does make the current Ballydoyle pecking order more defined than it was a week ago.
Epsom Derby Field Crowded, But Ballydoyle Lines Clearer
The Racing Post’s current Derby racecard keeps the broader picture in view.
The June 6th Group 1 remains a deep entry. But Benvenuto Cellini, Constitution River and Pierre Bonnard are all still among the horses listed for the race worth £2m (£1m to the winner).
With O’Brien looking for a record-extending twelfth Epsom Derby win – with his first coming in 2001 with Galileo and his most recent Lambourn last season.
So, with less than three weeks to Epsom, Ballydoyle now appears to have one clear market leader for the Derby, one colt still being brought forward for the same target, and one high-class alternative who may yet be diverted to Chantilly.
With the recent impressive Dante Stakes winner Item (Andrew Balding) and the Lingfield Derby Trial hero Maltese Cross (William Haggas) – the two shortest-priced Derby runners away from the O’Brien entries.
Epsom Derby Betting Odds 2026
- Benvenuto Cellini 9/4 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Item 5/1 (Andrew Balding)
- Constitution River 6/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Maltese Cross 8/1 (William Haggas)
- Pierre Bonnard 12/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- James J Braddock 16/1 (Joseph O’Brien)
- Bay Of Brilliance 20/1 (Ralph Beckett)
- Saxon Street 20/1 (John & Thady Gosden)
- Ancient Egypt 25/1 (Charlie Johnston)
- Hawk Mountain 25/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Limestone 25/1 (Joseph O’Brien)
- Action 33/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Water To Wine 33/1 (John & Thady Gosden)
- Christmas Day 40/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Italy 40/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Endorsement 50/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- 5o/1 BAR
Note: Epsom Derby betting odds 2026 are subject to change and others on request.
WATCH: Lambourn Winning The 2025 Epsom Derby
