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 a two-and-three-quarter size winner over the Tom Marquand-ridden Maltese Cross (12/1).
James J Braddock, the mount of Dylan Browne McMonagle, took third for coach Joseph O’Brien, two-and-a-half lengths behind the William Haggas-handled runner-up.
The victory of Christmas Day, within the Coolmore colors, was a twelfth win within the race for Aidan O’Brien, who turns into the primary coach to win the race 4 years in-a-row following the successes of Lambourn (2025), Metropolis Of Troy (2024) and Auguste Rodin (2023).
It is usually a fiftieth British basic 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 declared a non-runner after a stewards’ inquiry post-race. The son of Frankel had one leg caught on a bar within the stalls because the race started. Because of this, stewards deemed that he was denied an opportunity of successful and declared him a non-runner.
🗣️ “Issues do not occur completely for each horse within the race.”
Aidan O’Brien, now with 12 Derby wins beneath the bonnet after Christmas Day revelled within the Epsom rain, dissects a dramatic renewal of the premier Traditional pic.twitter.com/aJLhUDp2fM
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 6, 2026
