Aidan O’Brien celebrated another landmark success at Epsom on Saturday as Christmas Day battled through challenging conditions to capture the 2026 Betfred Derby.
Ridden by Ronan Whelan, the colt produced a powerful finish on rain-softened ground to secure victory in Britain’s most prestigious flat race, giving Whelan a first-ever Derby triumph.
The win also added another chapter to O’Brien’s remarkable Epsom record, extending his tally of Derby victories to twelve.
Christmas Day emerged strongly in the closing stages to pull clear of his rivals and seal a memorable success, while Maltese Cross stayed on well to take second place. James J Braddock completed the top three after a determined effort.
There was disappointment, however, for the O’Brien-trained Benvenuto Cellini. Sent off as the race favourite, the colt never featured prominently before eventually finishing out of contention. Following the race, officials declared him a non-runner after it was revealed he had become caught in the starting stalls as the race began.
Despite that setback, the day belonged to Christmas Day, whose impressive performance ensured another Derby triumph for Ballydoyle and further cemented O’Brien’s status as one of the greatest trainers in the history of the race.
2026 Betfred Derby Result
- Christmas Day (7/1)
- Maltese Cross (12/1)
- James J Braddock (9/1)
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