Epsom Derby Runners: A guide to the 2022 Derby field

We are set for a thrilling renewal of the 2022 Cazoo Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday 4th June, and we take an in-depth look at all the runners for what is set to be a hugely competitive renewal of the Group 1 Classic...

1. Changingoftheguard - A O'Brien

Winless as a juvenile, Changingoftheguard relished the step up to ten furlongs on his first start as a three-year-old as he won a Dundalk maiden. Sent to Chester for the Group 3 Chester Vase, the son of Galileo relished another hike in distance, and duly romped to a six-length victory in that 1m 4f contest, and he now goes in search of a hat-trick at Epsom. This is a notable step up in class, but Aidan O'Brien's raider is still open to improvement and could be a leading each-way player here.

2. Desert Crown - Sir M Stoute

Only made his racecourse debut in November 2021, but left a huge impression when cruising to victory at Nottingham and was touted as the next potential superstar from the yard of Sir Michael Stoute. The son of Nathaniel showed his class on only his second start when romping to glory in the Dante Stakes at York a few weeks ago. Will need to continue on an upward curve to land Derby glory, but shaped like there's a lot more to come and is set to be sent off the market leader for this year's Derby. The one to beat.

3. El Habeeb - S Moore

Supplemented at the five-day entry stage, El Habeeb only made his racecourse debut a fortnight ago, when he finished fifth in a Listed event at Newmarket. Entitled to improve for that run, but has shown nothing to suggest he can land any sort of blow in the Derby, so connections are just going for the day out.

4. Glory Daze - A Oliver

Only managed to get his head in front once in five starts, which came in a maiden event at the Curragh in April, but he failed to kick on from that effort when a well beaten second in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown. Over five lengths behind Stone Age that day, it's hard to see Glory Daze reversing that form with Aidan O'Brien's charge who lines up here.

5. Grand Alliance - C Fellowes

Having won a novice stakes to break his maiden tag at the third time of asking, Grand Alliance then went on to land a handicap at Doncaster off a mark of 81. Failed to land the hat-trick when second to Nahanni in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom, and with that adversary to beat here then the Charlie Fellowes-trained raider could be outclassed in a much tougher assignment.

6. Hoo Ya Mal - A Balding

Not out of the first three in all five starts, Hoo Ya Mal has been a real model of consistency for Andrew Balding, but having finished a well beaten third in the Craven at Newmarket over a mile in April, he was then a well beaten second in the Listed Newmarket Stakes a few weeks later. He was dispatched with aplomb by Nations Pride that day, and Charlie Appleby has opted to supplement that charge here, so the form looks smart, but Hoo Ya Mal has a lot to find on form.

7. Masekela - A Balding

Fifth in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot as a juvenile, Masekela then finished a decent second in the Superlative Stakes before going on to win the Listed Washington Singer Stakes at Newbury. Fourth in the Royal Lodge at the end of last season saw him compete at a high level again in his final two-year-old start, but on his sole three-year-old run this season he was well beaten by Eydon in the Feilden Stakes, so needs to improve on that effort here.

8. Nahanni - C Appleby

A hugely progressive son of Frankel, who has won three of his four races so far, and looks to have more improvement to come. A big price to land glory for Charlie Appleby here, but he showed he can act around the idiosyncratic Epsom track when winning the Blue Riband Trial over ten furlongs in late April, and he could be a potential springer in the betting.

9. Nations Pride - C Appleby

Charlie Appleby should have a strong hand in this year's Derby and the number one for the Godolphin handler could be Nations Pride, who has been supplemented for the contest after impressing this season. Second on debut at Yarmouth, the Teofilo colt has since racked up four wins on the bounce and is riding the crest of a wave heading to Epsom. Last seen storming to a seven-length victory in the Listed Newmarket Stakes, he will need to improve again in the Derby, but is a fascinating contender.

10. Piz Badile - D O'Brien

Showed potential as a two-year-old when building on a debut win at Killarney by finishing second in a Group 3 event at Leopardstown. However, he showed his possible Derby credentials when edging out Buckaroo in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown on his comeback run this season. Will need to improve considerably now upped in grade, but with Frankie Dettori in the saddle he's sure to be a popular figure with the punters.

11. Royal Patronage - M Johnston

An experienced colt for Mark Johnston, who landed some nice wins last season as a two-year-old with wins in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York and Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket the highlights. He started this season off in the 2000 Guineas, but could only finish eighth, while he was a well beaten second in the Dante Stakes behind Desert Crown, so he will have significant form to turn around when he steps up in trip again.

12. Sonny Liston - C Hills

An impressive five-and-a-half length winner on debut at Sandown last July, Sonny Liston wasn't seen again as a juvenile, and made his hotly anticipated return in the Listed Feilden Stakes at Newmarket back in April. Well fancied that day, the son of Lawman could only finish in fourth place behind the impressive winner Eydon and Masekela ahead of him. Sent to Chester's Dee Stakes next, he was a well beaten third behind Aidan O'Brien's Star Of India, so has form to find with multiple rivals at Epsom.

13. Star Of India - A O'Brien

A once-raced two-year-old that kicked off his career with a win at Leopardstown, Star Of India was then sent to the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on his first three-year-old start, but he failed to land a blow on Native Trail. Fifth of six that day, Star Of India shaped like a step up in trip would see him in a better light, and he was next seen producing a dominant display in the 1m 2f Dee Stakes at Chester. Kicking clear in fine fashion, he should be one that relishes the Derby trip and the son of Galileo could be the surprise package from Aidan O'Brien's yard.

14. Stone Age - A O'Brien

Failed to win any of his five two-year-old starts, but did finish second in a couple of Group races to suggest that he could be a potential classy three-year-old. However, it's been this season that has seen Stone Age blossom as having broken his maiden tag at Navan with a nine length success he then went on to romp to a five-and-a-half length victory in the Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown, and that has always been regarded a key trial. Aidan O'Brien's colt was immediately slashed in the Epsom betting and he looks to be the primary shot fired by the Ballydoyle gun.

15. Walk Of Stars - C Appleby

Ended last season with an eye-catching four-length win in a Nottingham maiden, Walk Of Stars kicked off his three-year-old campaign with a narrow victory over Hafit in a conditions event at Newbury in mid-April. Sent to Lingfield for the Listed Derby Trial Stakes next time out, the Charlie Appleby-trained raider was well fancied to prevail, but he failed to get the better of Aidan O'Brien's United Nations, who won by three-quarters-of-a-length. Likely to improve for that run, but he still has to prove that he can perform at this level.

16. Westover - R Beckett

Not out of the first two in his four career starts, Ralph Beckett's Westover could be another of interest for those looking to take on those at the head of the betting, as he was last seen winning the Classic Trial at Sandown Park. He ended his juvenile season with a second placed finish in the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes at Pontefract, and built on that with a victory at Sandown in April. Will need to improve notably to play a role here, but he's still a work in progress for Beckett, who could have a very smart horse on his hands.

17. West Wind Blows - S & E Crisford

Along with Desert Crown, West Wind Blows is the only other unbeaten colt lining up in the Derby, and he booked his place at Epsom with a promising five-length victory in a novice stakes at Nottingham at the start of May. How strong that form is we will only find out when he lines up at Epsom for Simon & Ed Crisford, but he certainly needs to improve again if he is to land a blow on Saturday afternoon.