The Irish Derby stands as one of the crown jewels in the Flat racing calendar, attracting top-class three-year-olds from Ireland, the UK, and beyond. With a rich history of legendary champions, it’s a race that both punters and purists circle on the calendar each summer. As horse racing odds start to take shape early in the season, many bettors look to ante-post markets in hopes of spotting the next Classic winner at generous prices.
Here’s a look back at the last five horses who etched their names into Curragh folklore by winning the Irish Derby.
2024 – Los Angeles
Aidan O’Brien continued his remarkable dominance of the prestigious Classic with Los Angeles, a powerful colt by 2012 dual Derby winner Camelot who showed his staying credentials emphatically to secure the master trainer his landmark 16th win in the race.
“He’s a big, hardy horse. He looks like he was a baby, but he is a Group One winner at two as well,” the trainer said.
“He is progressing, definitely, and we’re really looking forward to him. Obviously he’s by Camelot so he has that class, he can quicken. Ryan said he had a lot more class than he expected and he quickened very well when he got there.”
2023 – Auguste Rodin
A horse with superstar potential going into his three-year-old campaign, Auguste Rodin flopped in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket but then delivered on his lofty reputation later in the season. Also trained by O’Brien, he won at the Curragh to complete the Derby double at Epsom and in Ireland.
2022 – Westover
British raider Westover crossed the Irish Sea and landed a monumental victory for Ralph Beckett. Having finished third at Epsom from 25/1, when denied a clear run, Westover put things right at the Curragh when romping home by seven lengths from his nearest rival, Piz Badile.
2021 – Hurricane Lane
Trained by Charlie Appleby, Hurricane Lane was another British-trained winner of the Irish Derby—becoming the first UK-based horse to score since Jack Hobbs for John Gosden in 2015. Also third at Epsom a couple of weeks earlier, the Godolphin horse denied Lone Eagle late to win by a neck.
“Fantastic – this means the world to me,” said jockey William Buick afterwards. “I must give credit to Charlie and the team at Moulton Paddocks at home. This horse has done nothing but improve, and he improved since Epsom. We all know that’s not an easy thing to do.
“I thought halfway through the race that we’d given up our position behind Frankie a little bit, and I thought he’d get first run. My horse quickened up really well and showed a lot of quality out there today. Once I switched him out wide, he managed to get some clear running room and he took off.”
2020 – Santiago
A bizarre renewal of the Irish Derby, as it was held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Santigo claimed yet another win for O’Brien. The Authorized colt won the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Ascot just eight days before holding on by a head from stablemate Tiger Moth at the Curragh.
