Christmas Day came early for jockey Ronan Whelan as he won his first Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday afternoon.
Son of the Coolmore stallion Camelot, Christmas Day (7/1) was the winner by two and three quarter lengths over the Maltese Cross ridden by Tom Marquand (12/1).
Dylan Browne McMonagle’s mount James J Braddock took third for trainer Joseph O’Brien, two and a half lengths behind the runner-up under William Haggas.
The Christmas Day victory, in Coolmore colours, marks a 12th victory in the race for Aidan O’Brien, who becomes the first trainer to win the race four years in a row following the successes of Lambourn (2025), City Of Troy (2024) and Auguste Rodin (2023).
It is also a 50th British classic victory for the County Wexford-born handler – his first appearance with King Of Kings in the 1998 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
“The stars have aligned.” Ronan Whelan’s Christmases came early,… pic.twitter.com/DgfFrwDhb3
– Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 6, 2026
Pre-race favorite Benvenuto Cellini, Ryan Moore’s mount, was declared a non-runner after a post-race stewards’ investigation. Frankel’s son had his leg stuck in a bar in the pits early in the race. As a result, the stewards felt he had no chance of winning and declared him a non-runner.
“Things don’t go perfectly for every horse in the race.” Aidan O’Brien, who now has 12 Derby wins after a rainy Christmas Day in Epsom, dissects a spectacular revival of the inaugural Classic. pic.twitter.com/aJLhUDp2fM
– Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 6, 2026
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