Christmas Day got here early for jockey Ronan Whelan as he gained his first Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday afternoon.
A son of Coolmore stallion Camelot, Christmas Day (7/1) was once a two-and-three-quarter duration winner over the Tom Marquand-ridden Maltese Pass (12/1).
James J Braddock, the mount of Dylan Browne McMonagle, took 3rd for instructor Joseph O’Brien, two-and-a-half lengths at the back of the William Haggas-handled runner-up.
The victory of Christmas Day, within the Coolmore colors, was once a twelfth win within the race for Aidan O’Brien, who turns into the primary instructor to win the race 4 years in-a-row following the successes of Lambourn (2025), Town Of Troy (2024) and Auguste Rodin (2023).
It is usually a fiftieth British vintage win for the County Wexford-born handler – his first coming with King Of Kings within the 1998 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
🗣️”The celebrities aligned.”
Ronan Whelan’s Christmases have come early ,… pic.twitter.com/DgfFrwDhb3
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 6, 2026
The pre-race favorite Benvenuto Cellini, the mount of Ryan Moore, was once declared a non-runner after a stewards’ inquiry post-race. The son of Frankel had one leg stuck on a bar within the stalls because the race started. Because of this, stewards deemed that he was once denied a possibility of profitable and declared him a non-runner.
🗣️ “Issues do not occur completely for each and every horse within the race.”
Aidan O’Brien, now with 12 Derby wins underneath the bonnet after Christmas Day revelled within the Epsom rain, dissects a dramatic renewal of the premier Vintage pic.twitter.com/aJLhUDp2fM
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 6, 2026
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