Epsom Derby Entries 2022: Desert Crown and Stone Age head 18 entries for Derby

Sir Michael Stoute's Desert Crown and Aidan O'Brien's Stone Age are two of the star names among the 18 horses entered for the 2022 Cazoo Derby, which takes centre stage at Epsom Downs racecourse on Saturday afternoon. We take a look at the latest entry list for what is set to be a fascinating renewal of the Group 1 Classic...

A hugely impressive winner of the Dante Stakes at York on his last run, Desert Crown will head to Epsom as the one they all have to beat, as the unbeaten twice-raced son of Nathaniel looks to make it three from three in the marquee British flat race. Attempting to hand Stoute his sixth victory in the Derby, Desert Crown shaped like he could be one of the next stars of the flat when careering away to victory in the Dante, and the step up in trip should pose no problems for him and he is unsurprisingly heading the betting, at the time of writing.

O'Brien is going in search of a record-breaking ninth victory in the race, as the master of Ballydoyle attempts to win the Derby for the third time in four years and spearheading his charge will be the classy Stone Age. Excelling this season, the son of Galileo broke his maiden tag at the sixth time of asking at Navan in March, while he showed his Derby credentials with a hugely eye-catching success in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown at the start of May. 

There will be yet again a strong contingent heading to Epsom from O'Brien's yard and while Stone Age will be the primary shot fired by the Ballydoyle gun he has shown in the past he can win it with second and third strings, and two of those that could play a notable role are Changingoftheguard and Star Of India, who both won well at Chester and could land a blow here.

Charlie Appleby has an excellent recent record in the Derby as having trained his first winner in 2018 with Masar he followed that up last season with Adayar landing a shock win in the race, and this season's 2000 Guineas winning trainer will bid for more success, and could saddle a three-pronged attack. Godolphin have opted to supplement Nations Pride for the event, who was last seen winning a Listed event at Newmarket, while Lingfield Derby Trial runner-up Walk Of Stars and Epsom Derby Blue Riband Trial winner Nahanni add more depth to the Appleby charge.

Donnacha O'Brien will go in search of a maiden British Classic success at the weekend and he has called on the services of Frankie Dettori for his contender Piz Badile, who was last seen edging out his brother Joseph's Buckaroo in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown, and could be a surprise package here.

Ralph Beckett's Westover was a narrow winner of the Classic Trial at Sandown last month and could be a lively each-way outsider, while the likes of Eydon and Royal Patronage are another brace of notable names entered for the race, with the former of that pair aiming to build on a fine fourth in the 2000 Guineas at the start of the season.

Masekela, West Wind Blows, Hoo Ya Mal, Sonny Liston, Grand Alliance, Glory Daze and El Habeeb complete the 18-strong entry list.