O'Brien says Tennessee Stud to reoppose Lambourn in Irish Derby

June 10, 2025

Joseph O’Brien has confirmed Tennessee Stud will reoppose Lambourn in the Irish Derby later this month.

Tennessee Stud outran odds of 28/1 in the Epsom showpiece on Saturday to finish a valiant third from off the pace, less than five lengths adrift the runaway winner.

In the circumstances that margin is more impressive than meets the eye – considering only a few from the rear were able to make up proper ground – and O’Brien is keen to take on his father Aidan’s Lambourn once again at the Curragh on June 29.

“He came home strongly and looks an exciting horse for the future. We felt that he’d improve for the run at Leopardstown, we had been working towards the Derby and he ran a fantastic race.

“I would imagine he’ll go back to the Irish Derby. You’d think a mile and a half at the Curragh would suit him well and he has had a good run there before.”

Lambourn is currently trading a 4/5 shot for the Irish Derby with the best horse racing betting sites ahead of Tennessee Stud back at 8/1.

WATCH: Lambourn wins the 2025 Epsom Derby

The colt by Wootton Bassett lacked race fitness when finishing third behind Delacroix in a Derby trial at Leopardstown last month but built on that effort in abundance with a bronze medal in Britain’s richest race.

As O’Brien mentioned, Tennessee Stud has valuable course form at the Curragh when a narrow runner-up to Hotazhell in the Beresford Stakes last September.

He closed out the season with top-grade glory in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October – but it’s probably fair to say that was simply a Group 1 by name and certainly not by nature – with the runner-up that day Green Storm finishing a modest seventh in the Derby.

Tennessee Stud holds entries over ten furlongs in the International Stakes on Irish Derby weekend – won by St Leger and Coronation Cup hero Jan Brueghel in 2024 – as well as the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September.

However the three-year-old shapes as if he will be seen to best effect over the Leger trip of 1m 6f and while entries aren’t out for the Doncaster Classic yet, his name is in the Irish renewal so there’s every chance it’s a realistic target.

Tennessee Stud is a best-price 10/1 for the British St Leger, scheduled for Saturday, September 13 and if he doesn’t go there it’s safe to assume he’ll head to the Curragh for the Irish version the day after.