Pierre Bonnard Tops 88-Entry Betfred Derby Entries, US-Trained Greenwich Village Included

1. entry list and timing

The full list of 88 entries for the 2026 Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs was published on Tuesday, Feb. 24 and names are being priced ante‑post for the Classic on Saturday, June 6. That breadth, nearly 90 colts, gives connections plenty of route options into Epsom and leaves the early market open to moves as trials and overseas plans firm up.

2. pierre bonnard: unbeaten and headline act

Unbeaten Pierre Bonnard tops the entries and arrives as the ante‑post favourite, quoted 6-1 with the race sponsors. His position at the head of the list frames the market narrative for the spring: an unbeaten colt carrying the immediate weight of favourite status into a large and competitive field.

3. aidan o’Brien and Ballydoyle’s market dominance

Aidan O’Brien stands out at the top of early ante‑post betting, with Pierre Bonnard forming the pillar of his bid for another Classic. O’Brien "landed a record‑extending 11th Derby with Lambourn last year" and now "looks to hold leading claims of a fourth‑straight success in the mile‑and‑a‑half Classic," a striking run of form that shapes how other camps must map strategies and target trials.

4. greenwich village: the American wildcard

Greenwich Village is among the 88 entries and represents a high‑profile U.S. challenge, he is trained in the United States by Bob Baffert and is jointly owned by SF Racing. Described in multiple reports as a three‑time winner and "the son of Quality Road," he was in the winner’s enclosure as recently as Sunday when reported to have won the Pasadena (spelled variously in copies) Stakes at Santa Anita, making him a formline to watch if the colt travels.

5. owner reaction and the Derby question (Tom Ryan quote)

Tom Ryan, speaking for joint‑owners SF Racing, framed the invitation and the angles on distance and development in one extended comment: “We are incredibly grateful to The Jockey Club for extending an invitation to the Betfred Derby for Greenwich Village. It was a wonderful and unexpected surprise for all of us, and something we don’t take lightly. It’s a very intriguing opportunity, and we’ll be giving it serious thought as we map out his path from the winter into the spring. We’ve loved seeing how he’s progressed, stretching out from six and a half furlongs to a mile on the turf, and he keeps finding and finishing through adversity, which is what you want to see from a developing three-year-old. He’s a big, powerful colt, and he’s bred to keep moving forward as distances increase. The Derby distance is the great unknown. [...]”

6. bob baffert’s role and the Kentucky Derby pivot quote

The ownership camp has signalled that Bob Baffert will drive the decision on whether Greenwich Village contests Epsom: “We will be guided by Bob Baffert when it comes to making a decision. When we originally purchased him, we had the Kentucky Derby in mind. It would be quite a pivot if he ended up in Epsom Downs.” That stance underscores the logistical and training pivot required to switch a U.S. Classic programme toward Epsom’s unique demands.

8. japanese interest: akkan and choreo sequence

The 88 entries also include potential Japanese representation with Akkan, trained by Takeshi Okumura, and Choreo Sequence, trained by Yuta Sato. Their inclusion signals the international scope of early Derby planning and adds another tactical layer for bettors and planners who must assess how overseas form will translate to Epsom.

9. market narrative and early betting context

Multiple reports frame the early ante‑post market as featuring "all of the major names" with Aidan O’Brien dominating the top of the board and Pierre Bonnard installed at 6‑1. With O’Brien chasing an unprecedented run of recent success, ante‑post markets will be reactive to trial performances and any announcements from overseas camps contemplating the trip.

10. form, distance and verification items to watch

Several concrete verification items stand out before any firm conclusions: confirm the exact spelling and date of Greenwich Village’s Santa Anita score (some copies list the "Pasedena" Stakes), verify his three wins and levels, reconfirm the 6‑1 ante‑post quote with the race sponsors, and check whether Akkan and Choreo Sequence will maintain their entries. Those checks will determine which of the 88 has a genuine route to Epsom and which remain speculative invitations.

11. what the list means for Epsom and the spring program

An 88‑entry list anchored by an unbeaten favourite and punctuated by a rare American contender creates a high‑stakes chessboard for the spring trials. Trainers must balance domestic trial targets, potential transatlantic travel and the unique demands of Epsom’s track; owners like SF Racing have signalled they will weigh classic plans carefully, and the market will shift as those choices crystallize.

12. closing significance

The Derby entry list released Feb. 24 places Pierre Bonnard and Aidan O’Brien front and centre while handing the story a late twist: Bob Baffert’s Greenwich Village could crack a three‑decade absence of U.S.‑trained challengers at Epsom. Between unbeaten favourites, international entries and ownerships weighing Kentucky versus Epsom, the next two months will be decisive in separating plausible Classic contenders from long‑shot entries.