Ladbrokes Winter Derby final 2026 - Runner-by-runner guide

Photo from Monmore X feed

Ladbrokes Winter Derby

The final of the Ladbrokes Winter Derby looks wide open at 7/4 the field, where a lot is going to depend on the exits from the traps. All prices used are from the sponsors. 

1 - Droopys Aladdin - Mike Burton - Severn Racing Club - 7/4

Connections will be delighted that he has made it into a Category One final, and even more so that he has got red. He was behind Toddys Wolf in the semis last week, although he found a little bit of trouble that day. 

He is one of many who has had his chance changed following the withdrawal of Gary The Arb. One less piece of pace pressure on the rails has to be a plus for him.  If he comes away as he can, he's the one to beat given the draw right on the inside. 

2 - Bruce Bay - Mark Wallis - MWD Partnership - 5/2

Took off in the semis last week, the quickest of the winners clocking 28.04. He is a regular sub 4.40 on the split here and that win came from the blue jacket, so this could be a fine launching pad for him. 

Doesn't have many miles on the clock, so could have a little bit more to come and is going to be helped by having a vacant trap on the outside of him now following the withdrawal of Gary The Arb.

4 - Bouncing Monarch - David Fradgely - Mr D Fradgely - 9/2

Already a finalist in the BresBet Steel City Cup and Jimmy Wright Future Stars, he makes another decider after a smart semi-final win last week. He came away better than is sometimes the case which got him into a decent position much earlier. 

The vacant trap inside him should be a help, it is a matter of having the pace of the inside pair on the run to the opening turn to be able to turn in a position that is as advantageous as last week again. 

5 - Toddys Wolf - Tom Heilbron - Mr A Todd, Mr G Todd, Mr N Todd - 10/1

Smashed out in the semis last week and was never for catching. This trip is far enough for him and could have done with Gary The Arb staying in, as any slight rub between the inside three runners would have seen him away and gone.

The chances are that he still leads up this field and can give a bold sight out in front. He is probably going to be reliant on there being a little bit of trouble behind him if he is to hold them all off. 

6 - Texas Jack - Richard Rees - Mr D Bear - 3/1

It feels like he has a nice draw to work from was the sole wide and with a fast starter and a railer in the two traps to his immediate left. However, it feels like Gary The Arb would have been a help to him to slow down the inside pair to give him first crack at the potential leader in five.

With the two inside runners having a little less competition for the lead, the race has changed and while we are still hopeful of getting the place money back on our each way ante-post pick, he is going to have to be at the top of his game to win. 

Conclusion

The withdrawal of Gary The Arb has completely chanced the complexion of the race. With him in there, three railers would be looking for very similar ground which could have seen Texas Jack turn on the heels of the short-running Toddys Wolf. Now, it feels like whichever one of the inside pair leads up is going to be the winner. 

Which one that is going to be is a tough call. They probably both have the draw that they would have liked and there is very little between them on the sectionals. By virtue of having the inside line, we are going to be with Droopys Aladdin to just edge out Bruce Bay with Texas Jack likely to be right in the mix out wide. 

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