Irish Derby 2025 Betting Guide: Odds, Tips, Runners & Preview

🎲 Irish Derby Ante-Post Betting Odds

Aidan O'Brien has won the Irish Derby an incredible 16 times. The Ballydoyle supremo is set to hold the keys to the race once more. In 2023, he saddled Auguste Roding to win the Epsom Derby before coming to the Curragh to win this race, the 19th time that English/Irish Derby double had been completed. After his win at Epsom at the start of the month, O'Brien's Lambourn tops the Irish Derby odds for the Curragh follow-up.

Horse

Lambourn

N/A

1.80

1.73

Tennessee Stud

N/A

5.80

7.00

Stay True

N/A

8.00

8.00

Delacroix

N/A

11.00

11.00

Pride Of Arras

N/A

11.00

11.00

Stanhope Gardens

N/A

11.00

11.00

The Lion In Winter

N/A

17.00

17.00

Nightime Dancer

N/A

36.00

67.00

Horse

Lambourn

N/A

1.80

1.73

Tennessee Stud

N/A

5.80

7.00

Stay True

N/A

8.00

8.00

Delacroix

N/A

11.00

11.00

Pride Of Arras

N/A

11.00

11.00

Stanhope Gardens

N/A

11.00

11.00

The Lion In Winter

N/A

17.00

17.00

Nightime Dancer

N/A

36.00

67.00

⚠️Odds are subject to change. Please check before placing your bets.

💡 Irish Derby Betting Tips

The Irish Derby is rich in history, dating back to 1866 in its current guise, and it has been a major recognised international contest for more than 70 years. The race is now priced up on the best betting sites for the Irish market, and below you'll find our expert antepost Irish Derby tips.

• Tip 1: Lambourn

  Lambourn has strong prospects of becoming the 20th horse to win this race after securing the Epsom Derby. Aidan O'Brien has trained four of the last five dual winners, with Galileo achieving this feat in 2001. High Chaparral followed in 2002, while his son Joseph guided both Camelot (2012) and Australia (2014) to victory in both classics. Most recently, Auguste Rodin accomplished the same in 2023. Lambourn is well-positioned to join this illustrious group, having convincingly won the Epsom Classic earlier this month.

• Tip 2: The Lion In Winter

  Regular followers of the Irish Flat season know that it’s not unusual for Aidan O'Brien to have multiple leading contenders in major races like this one. When Auguste Rodin won the race two years ago, he led an astonishing one-two-three-four finish for the Master of Ballydoyle, with Adelaide River (33/1), Covent Garden (80/1), and Peking Opera (66/1) following behind the odds-on favourite.

  Given this, it’s essential to consider some of O'Brien's other contenders. The Lion In Winter was a highly promising juvenile last season but has started this season with two losses, finishing behind in the Dante at York and the Epsom Derby. Jockey Ryan Moore admitted that his race was effectively over early on at Epsom when he was shuffled back to the rear of the field. However, a redemptive effort at the Curragh shouldn’t be overlooked. As a Sea The Stars colt trained by a master, he is likely to bounce back soon. At price of 17.00 at BoyleSports, making him worth considering.

• Tip 3: Stanhope Gardens

  English-trained horses have won two of the last four renewals of this race, so it’s important to consider a contender from the raiding party in any 2025 Irish Derby preview. Trainer Ralph Beckett won this race with Westover in 2022 after a strong performance at Epsom. He may have another leading contender now in Stanhope Gardens, who finished fifth out of 18 at Epsom. Stanhope Gardens came from a long way back in the field to challenge that day but struggled with the demanding Epsom camber in the home straight, losing several positions late in the race. This more conventional track could yield an improved showing from the Ghaiyyath colt.

✔️ How Our Are Irish Derby Betting Tips Selected

There is no formula for picking the winner of the Irish Derby. However, punters can certainly make informed decisions by considering some of the key factors going into the race, with form in the English Derby often a good indicator.

• Experience:

  Having experience in a good company is usually crucial when it comes to winning the Irish Derby. Nine of the previous 12 winners had previously won at least once in Group-race company before landing this Curragh Classic.

• Horse Form:

  Some good form in the book is essential. All of the last 12 winners had won at least one race and had a minimum of four runs under their belts. Six of those last dozen winners had scored last time out before this race, while all 12 had run within four weeks of the Irish Derby.

• Trial races:

  Looking out for the form shown in the key Derby trials runs at Leopardstown and Naas can be key to this race. The Derby at Epsom, while anything but a trial, can often be a crucial pointer towards this race, so it is worth including here. Nine of the previous 12 Irish Derby winners had run in the Epsom version, with three winners and four placed horses for the early June contest coming to the Curragh.

• Class Ratings:

  It almost goes without saying, but a classy horse will win the Derby. Nine of the last 12 Curragh winners were officially rated 111 or higher before taking their place in this contest.

• Course and Distance:

  Six Irish derby winners in the last 12 had run previously at the Curragh, with four of the sextet already having a win behind them at the Kildare circuit. The Derby trip of a mile-and-a-half tests the stamina of three-year-old colts that take the test, but many winners of this race have already showcased their ability. 10 of the last 12 winners had at least one run at the Derby trip, and four had already scored over 1m4f.

🏇 Irish Derby Predictions

⚡ Irish Derby Festival Betting Sites

Punters have a wide range of options when it comes to choosing Irish Derby betting sites, with many established and new options available. If you're unsure about the best place to bet, consider checking out our in-depth bookmaker reviews. These reviews provide helpful information, advice, and details about free bet offers to guide your decision.

Making the right choice is crucial for maximising your betting experience on the Irish Derby and other major racing events. Below, we provide an update on three of the leading firms available in the Irish market.

William Hill Sports

The William Hill name is synonymous with the betting industry, a long-established presence on the high street and now a key player in the online space. William Hill is a trusted player in the Irish online betting space and a key contributor to Irish racing. You can learn more about the brand in our William Hill review. New customers can avail of the €40 Welcome Free Bet Offer before placing bets ahead of the three-day Irish Derby Festival at the Curragh.

BoyleSports

BoyleSports is one of the Irish betting industry titans, a long-established and familiar site on the Irish high streets with their retail outlets and with a strong online presence via their user-friendly website and app. A much-trusted presence in the Irish space, Boylesports offer a uniquely Irish-based option, and new customers can avail of their Get €30 worth of Free Bets offer upon signing up. You can learn more about this platform in our detailed BoyleSports review.

📊 The Curragh Racecourse Key Facts

The Curragh is the home of Ireland's Classics, including the Derby in June and is a venue that stages only Flat racing. The County Kildare course is located in an equine hotbed, with top yards, studs and equine facilities all nearby, including the Irish National Stud.

A horseshoe-shaped, right-handed course with no sharp bends over two miles with a straight run-in of three furlongs slightly uphill – the Curragh is for many people the perfect racecourse in terms of its fairness to all competitors, with little opportunity for bad luck in running.

The Derby course and distance features plenty of turns throughout, and, therefore, a low draw and rail position can be a definite asset.

Racing at the Curragh typically takes place from the final weekend in March – the opening weekend of Flat turf racing in Britain and Ireland – through until late September, with around 23 meetings per year.

📆 Irish Debry Festival Racing Schedule

📊 Irish Derby Jockey & Trainer Statistics

The Irish Derby Festival in 2025 will mark a legacy of 160 years of the Irish Derby, a race that continues to stand as one of the most prestigious and thrilling in the world. The modern Irish Derby has been dominated by one man, Aidan O'Brien, saddling an incredible 16 winners already.

Seamie Heffernan, formerly employed by Ballydoyle, has ridden four Irish Derby winners for O'Brien. The likes of Mick Kinane, Johnny Murtagh, and Kieren Fallon have all ridden back-to-back winners of the race this century.

Top 5 Jockeys and Trainers

The Curragh is the home of the Irish Derby, and below we've collated some Irish Derby jockey stats alongside the trainers who typically do well at the home of Irish Flat racing.

Success at the Curragh, at any time of the year, is a good benchmark for the Irish Derby Festival and the big race itself. Below, we have identified the trainers and jockeys with the most successes at the Curragh in the last five seasons.

🏆 Irish Derby Past Winners

Having a look at past winners of the race will evoke memories of great performances on the Curragh in bygone years. Some magnificent colts have added their names to the Irish Derby roll of honour in recent times. Here are the Irish Derby winners - 2024 – 2017.

🎯 BetInIreland’s Conclusion

The Irish Derby is one of the most treasured races of the Flat racing season. The Curragh Classic proudly stands as one of the jewels in the Irish racing crown and is a key race in the European racing pattern.

In recent years, one man has dominated the Irish Derby: Aidan O'Brien, who has won the race an impressive 16 times since Desert King triumphed in 1997. The Ballydoyle supremo continues to push the boundaries of possibility in the sport, and in 2025, he once again has strong contenders in the pursuit of winning the Irish Derby. He might even achieve the English/Irish Derby double, as his horse Lambourn won convincingly at Epsom at the beginning of June.

❓ IRISH DERBY FESTIVAL BETTING FAQS