Irish Derby 2026 Betting Guide: Odds, Tips, Runners & Preview
The Irish Derby returns to the Curragh on Sunday 28 June 2026, with Aidan O'Brien's Benvenuto Cellini favourite to land an 18th win for Ballydoyle in Ireland's premier Classic. Our Irish Derby betting guide covers the latest ante-post odds, expert tips, festival schedule, and the top operators for the race.
Best Irish Bookmakers for the Irish Derby
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🎲 Irish Derby Ante-Post Betting Odds
Aidan O'Brien has won the Irish Derby a record 17 times, including Lambourn last year. For 2026, Benvenuto Cellini heads the Irish Derby betting odds after a controversial Epsom non-runner, with stablemate and Epsom Derby winner Christmas Day second in the market. Compare the table below to find the best Irish Derby betting odds across the leading bookmakers.
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⚠️ Odds are subject to change. Please check before placing your bets.
💡 Irish Derby Betting Tips
The Irish Derby is dating back to 1866 and has been a major international contest for more than 70 years. The race is priced up across the top Irish betting sites. Our Irish Derby betting tips today focus on five runners with a realistic chance at the Curragh.
- Tip 1: Benvenuto Cellini
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Frankel colt was sent off favourite for the Epsom Derby but had his race ruined at the start when a hind leg lodged on the stalls shelf, costing him several lengths. He passed the post tenth, but the market has given him the benefit of the doubt. Ryan Moore rides for a Ballydoyle yard chasing back-to-back Irish Derbys after Lambourn last year. He looks the most likely winner at a top-priced 6/4.
- Tip 2: Christmas Day
The 2026 Epsom Derby winner is the obvious threat to his stablemate. Trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Ronan Whelan, the Camelot colt won at Epsom by almost three lengths, and his front-running, galloping style should be tested rather than blunted by the Curragh's stiffer mile and a half. Five horses since 2000 have completed the Epsom and Irish Derby double, including Lambourn in 2025 and Auguste Rodin in 2023. At 3/1 he is fair value.
- Tip 3: Raaheeb
Owen Burrows trains the only unbeaten runner in the line-up, and Raaheeb's connections deliberately swerved Epsom in favour of this race. The colt landed the Sandown Classic Trial in May and steps up to Group 1 company with no obvious form question against his rivals. As the leading British-trained challenger he carries a stable that won the race in 2022 with Westover for Ralph Beckett. At 3/1 he is rated alongside Christmas Day.
- Tip 4: James J Braddock
Joseph O'Brien's runner finished third behind Christmas Day at Epsom and steps back up in trip with the form of that race already franking through results. The Irish-trained colt is bred to relish the mile-and-a-half test, and his trainer landed the 2018 Irish Derby with Latrobe. At 5/1 he is the value play in the single-figure prices, and a stable with a strong recent record at the Curragh meeting.
- Tip 5: Pierre Bonnard
The Aidan O'Brien third string is the wildcard of the Ballydoyle entries. A Group 1 winner at two, he has yet to deliver at three and was below expectations at Epsom, but Coolmore representatives have spoken about him with confidence ahead of the Curragh. Christophe Soumillon, who partnered him to his juvenile success, takes the ride. At 12/1 he is the each-way play if you want to side against the favourites.
✔️ How Our Irish Derby Betting Tips Are Selected
Five factors separate Irish Derby winners from the field: prior Group-race experience, recent form, trial-race evidence, official rating, and Curragh course form. Form in the English Derby is often the strongest indicator of all.
- Experience:
Group company is the baseline. 19 of the last 23 Irish Derby winners had already won a Group race before lining up at the Curragh, and six were already Group 1 winners.
- Horse Form:
Recent form is essential. 22 of the last 23 winners had run within five weeks of the Irish Derby, and 18 had finished in the top three on their previous start.
- Trial races:
The trials at Leopardstown and Naas point the way, but the Epsom Derby is the dominant pointer. 17 of the last 23 winners ran in the Epsom version on their previous start, and five of those had won at Epsom, including Lambourn, Auguste Rodin, Harzand, Australia and Camelot.
- Class Ratings:
A classy horse wins the Derby. 19 of the last 23 winners returned at 6/1 or shorter in the betting, and 18 came from the top three in the market.
- Course and Distance:
The mile-and-a-half test rewards stamina already proven. 19 of the last 23 winners had won over at least a mile and a quarter, and 17 had three or more career wins on the board before the Curragh.
🏇 Irish Derby Predictions
⚡ Irish Derby Festival Betting Sites
There is no shortage of betting sites for the Irish Derby Festival, from long-established names to newer arrivals. If you are weighing up where to bet, our in-depth bookmaker reviews set out the strengths of each operator, along with the free bet offers worth claiming.
Picking the right firm makes a real difference to your horse race betting on the Irish Derby and the other big racing dates, so below we run the rule over five of the leading options in the Irish market.
Livescorebet Sport
Livescorebet is the sportsbook arm of the LiveScore Group, the company behind the LiveScore app that has tracked sports scores for a global audience since 1998. The betting product is purpose-built for an audience that already follows the games live, with a sportsbook tuned to UK and Irish racing alongside the headline football coverage.
Best Odds Guaranteed applies across UK and Irish racing from the morning of the meeting, with extra places on selected races throughout the festival weekend. The in-play view ports across from the LiveScore mobile experience, giving you live odds and live data side by side as the Curragh card unfolds.
You can learn more about the brand in our Livescorebet review, and new customers can claim the Bet €10, Get €50 in Free Bets before the Irish Derby Festival gets under way. In the Republic of Ireland, Livescorebet operates under a licence from the Revenue Commissioners.
Directionbet
Directionbet is one of the newer entrants to the Irish-facing online betting market, a digital-first operator focused on a modern, mobile-led product with no high street legacy to weigh it down. The platform leans into a sharp betslip experience and live data, giving customers a clean route from ante-post markets through to in-play across the major flat racing weekends.
Racing markets cover every UK and Irish meeting on the festival weekend, with each-way terms on the Irish Derby and extra places dropping on selected handicaps. The mobile build is purpose-suited to a busy Sunday card with quick switching between events, and the cash-out tool runs across in-play markets through the run-in.
Our Directionbet review lays out the wider product detail, and new accounts can pick up a 100% Matched Deposit up to €100 on first deposit and qualifying bet ahead of the off at the Curragh.
Rabona Sports
Rabona takes its name from the audacious football trick and carries that style into a sportsbook that has built a fast-growing Irish following since launch. The platform is operated by Rabidi N.V. and pairs broad racing coverage with one of the more competitive accumulator builders in the newer generation of online operators.
Racing is well-served across UK and Irish meetings, with full ante-post coverage of the Curragh festival and each-way terms running on the Irish Derby itself. Live in-running odds stay sharp through the run-in, and the multi-leg accumulator pricing across the festival card is among the strongest on this page.
You can learn more about the platform in our Rabona Sports review, and new customers can claim a 100% Matched Deposit up to €100 when they deposit and place their qualifying first bet.
Scored Sport
Scored Sport is a mobile-first sportsbook built around a clean betslip and strong in-play data, positioned to compete with the higher-profile names on a leaner, modern product. Irish customers find a sportsbook with sharp racing coverage and a wider promotional calendar than is typical for newer arrivals to the market.
UK and Irish racing carry through every meeting on the Curragh festival weekend, with each-way terms on the Derby card and a live in-play view that holds odds and form data side by side. Cash Out runs across selected in-play markets, and a Bet Builder is available on the bigger handicaps.
Read our Scored Sport review for the full welcome detail, and new accounts can pick up an Up to €1,000 Sports Welcome Package across their first three deposits before the Derby.
Paripesa
Paripesa runs one of the broader international sportsbooks aimed at customers across Europe and Africa, with a deep racing book that prices UK, Irish, French and South African meetings side by side. That breadth pays off on a festival weekend like the Curragh, where ante-post depth and live coverage hold up against any of the high-street names.
Racing markets carry every leg of the Irish Derby festival with full each-way terms on the Group races, and the cash-out tool runs across the in-play markets throughout the day. Multi-currency support and a strong banking spread make the welcome process straightforward, and the in-running odds stay sharp through the closing furlongs.
Our Paripesa review sets the product out in full, and new customers can claim a 100% Matched Deposit up to €100 on first qualifying deposit and bet.
📊 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.
📆 2026 Irish Derby Festival Racing Schedule
📊 Irish Derby Jockey & Trainer Statistics
The 2026 Irish Derby is the 161st running of Ireland's premier Classic. The modern race has been dominated by Aidan O'Brien, who saddled a record 17 winners after Lambourn last year. Ryan Moore now goes for a fourth in a row after taking the race on Auguste Rodin in 2023, Los Angeles in 2024, and Lambourn in 2025. Seamie Heffernan, the long-time Ballydoyle second jockey, has ridden four Irish Derby winners.
Top 5 Jockeys and Trainers
The tables below show the leading jockeys and trainers at the Curragh over the last five seasons. Curragh form is a strong benchmark for Irish Derby Festival success, and the names below dominate both the everyday cards and the Group races.
🏆 Irish Derby Past Winners
The Irish Derby roll of honour from 2015 to 2025 shows the depth of Aidan O'Brien's dominance. Aidan O'Brien trained six of the last 11 winners, with Ryan Moore booking three wins in a row from 2023 to 2025.
🎯 BetInIreland's Conclusion
Aidan O'Brien has won the Irish Derby 17 times since Desert King in 1997. He saddles Benvenuto Cellini in 2026 as ante-post favourite at the head of a strong Ballydoyle team, with stablemate and 2026 Epsom Derby winner Christmas Day pursuing the same English and Irish Derby double Lambourn completed last year. With Raaheeb representing Owen Burrows and James J Braddock carrying the Joseph O'Brien yard, this is a deep renewal with a clear case for the favourite and useful each-way value beyond the top three.
❓ Irish Derby Festival Betting FAQs
What time is the 2026 Irish Derby Race?
The Irish Derby is scheduled to go to post at 4.10 pm (16:10) on Sunday, 28th June 2026, at the Curragh in Co Kildare.
Who are the most successful trainers and jockeys?
Aidan O'Brien has trained more winners of the Irish Derby than anyone, with a record 17, while jockey Morny Wing won six times from 1921 to 1946 and still holds the riding record.
What is The Curragh Racecourse like?
The Curragh is a wide and expansive racetrack with long sweeping bends. It is widely regarded as one of the fairest and best racecourses in Europe, a place where every horse gets the chance to show its best.
Can I bet on the Irish Derby race?
Yes, ante-post betting is available on the Irish Derby with many of the leading Irish bookmakers, covering the outright winner and each-way markets. Betting is for over 18s only, so please gamble responsibly.
What is the Irish Derby Festival?
The Irish Derby Festival is a three-day race meeting at the Curragh in Co Kildare, running from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th June 2026 and culminating in the Irish Derby itself, a Group 1 for three-year-olds over a mile and a half, run a few weeks after the Derby at Epsom.
Who is predicted to win the Irish Derby in 2026?
Epsom Derby winner Christmas Day is expected to head the market for Aidan O'Brien, with stablemate Pierre Bonnard and the beaten Epsom horses Maltese Cross and James J Braddock among the leading challengers. Final declarations are made closer to the race.
Enda McElhinney
Enda McElhinney is an Irish-based sportswriter, specialising in written content on the GAA, horse racing and football. He has more than a decade of experience across many publications, bringing a wealth of knowledge and betting nous to his craft. You'll find his content featured on many websites, including The Telegraph and Planet Sport. When he isn't at this desk or the racecourse, he loves to unwind on the golf course – though sometimes that can be more stressful than working!