Can Bookmakers’ Favourite Delacroix Win at Epsom?

Delacroix is currently the favourite to win the Epsom Derby, which is set for the 7th June 2025. However, just because Delacroix is the favourite for many bookies doesn’t mean he’s necessarily in a far stronger place to win, and indeed, Delacroix has a lot of significant competition to contend with. In line with this thought, today, we’re looking at whether the bookies are right on the money with their choice of favourite, or if any of the other horses in the running could be likely to win at Epsom too?
Can Delacroix Win the Epsom Derby?
Delacroix’s currently the bookies’ top pick for the Epsom Derby, with several big names in the industry - including Bet365, Ladbrokes, and BetVictor - all offering odds on him to win of 2/1 (3.0). However, while he’s a clear favourite, it’s important to keep in mind that Delacroix isn’t the only contender for the Derby, and in fact, his form doesn’t even set him up that well compared to the other runners.
Which Horses Will Give Delacroix the Biggest Run for His Money?
As we’ve briefly mentioned, Delacroix isn’t the only strong contender in the 2025 Derby, and several other runners have excellent form that could put them in far better standing. Perhaps most notable of all is Ruling Court, whose record gives a lot to like.
Admittedly, he’s only run four times: twice in 2025 and twice in 2024. Nonetheless, despite being in large fields all four times, he’s come first thrice and third just the one time. This no doubt puts him up there as one of the hottest contenders for the Epsom Derby, potentially even outstripping Delacroix in terms of experience in large runs.
Pride of Arras similarly could be a good contender thanks to his experience in bigger races. However, while Arras does have several larger group races under his belt, he’s only run twice before the Derby; given this, he’ll need some more time to prove that his two previous wins are something attainable consistently during his career.
Also offering relatively short odds at the moment is The Lion in Winter. He’s likely to be more of a chance winner, if he does pull it off, as his latest outing in May gave disappointing results. However, he did pull off two wins in races of 11 and 12 runners last year, so it wouldn’t be unprecedented for him to come in and clinch the win.
Final Thoughts
Inevitably, as with any horse race, there’s no way to say with 100% certainty whether or not Delacroix will be able to pull off a win. This is especially noteworthy when considering that his biggest rivals have also been in exceptional form; indeed, while Delacroix is the bookies’ favourite, he’s far from the only strong candidate in the field. Pride of Arras, Ruling Court, and the Lion in Winter could potentially all pose a significant threat, and these horses have the benefit of having run in races with more entries more often than Delacroix. But, in the end, only time will tell.
Best Betting Sites
|
|
£30 | CLAIM |
|
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. #ad | T&C apply |
||
|
|
£40 | CLAIM |
|
18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&Cs Apply 18+. UK/IRE online only. Min odds 3/1. Max stake £/€20. Available on one bet per selected event. 50% boost applied after all selections are settled. Max boost payout £/€1,000. Offer excludes multiple bets. Free, void, or cashed out bets do not qualify. T&Cs apply. | T&C apply |
||
|
|
£30 | CLAIM |
|
18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excluded. Min first £5/€5 bet within 14 days of account registration at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £5/€5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stake not returned). Restrictions + T&Cs apply. | T&C apply |
||
|
|
£10 | CLAIM |
|
1x£5 Sports Bet, 1x£5 Acca and 1x£5 Sub-Cover. Full T&Cs Apply. | T&C apply |
||
|
|
£50 | CLAIM |
|
18+ New UK Customers Only. Bet £10+ on any sportsbook markets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. No cash out. Get 50% back of your first day’s losses (from first bet settlement until 23:59) as a Free Bet up to £50, valid for 7 days. Min. 3 bets on different events required, with 2 bets being at least 50% of your largest stake. Place at least 1 bet of £10+ at odds 2.00+ to receive a £5 Free Bet even if your account is up or losses are under £5. T&Cs Apply. GambleAware.org | T&C apply |
||
|
|
£20 | CLAIM |
|
18+. New Players Only. Min deposit £20. Offer is a £20 free bet when you bet £20 in one single transaction, on any sports at odds of 2.00 or higher. Free bet credited upon qualifying bet settlement. Free Bet can be redeemed on any sports market and used in one single transaction. Winnings credited as cash and immediately withdrawable. Free bet expires 7 days after being credited. Free Bets non withdrawable. Free Bet stakes not included in returns. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org. | T&C apply |
||
|
|
£50 | CLAIM |
|
18+ New customers only. Place at least 3 settled real money bets of £10 or more at odds even (2.0) or greater. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org #ad | T&C apply |
||
|
|
£30 | CLAIM |
|
*New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accepted in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. Gamcare.org. 18+ | T&C apply |
||
|
|
£30 | CLAIM |
|
#AD 18+ New and existing UK customers can claim £30 in Free Bets at Mr Vegas Sports by depositing £10+, entering code SPORTS, and placing £10 in qualifying sports bets at odds of Evens (2.00) or higher within 60 days of registration. The bonus is paid as 3 x £10 Free Bets, unlocked one at a time as each is used. Free Bets are stake not returned, but any winnings are withdrawable immediately with no wagering requirements. Full T&Cs apply. | T&C apply |
||
|
|
£40 | CLAIM |
|
New UK customers. Place a £10 real money bet at min. 2.0 odds within 5 days of deposit. Get 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 Single, 2 Accas & 1 Bet Builder (min. 3 selections each). Excludes cashout, E/W, Multis, Ineligible Markets & Odds Boosts. Credited after bet settlement. 7-day expiry. T&Cs apply. 18+ | GambleAware | T&C apply |
||