Christmas Day powers through mud to land O’Brien’s 12th Derby crown

Christmas Day cut through the soft ground at Epsom to hand Aidan O’Brien a record-extending 12th Derby and give Ronan Whelan the biggest victory of his career. In a race that felt unsettled from the moment the stalls opened, the Camelot colt settled the argument when he moved to the front about three furlongs out and pulled clear to win the 247th running of the Classic by 2 3/4 lengths.

The race was already upended before the main contenders had found their rhythm. Benvenuto Cellini, the favorite, was declared a non-runner after stewards judged he had not had a fair start, with video showing a hind leg caught on the running board as the gates opened. The ruling triggered refunds on bets and a Rule 4 deduction of 25 pence in the pound on some winning wagers, a sharp reminder that the Derby’s market can turn on a single incident as quickly as the race itself.

Once the field finally stretched out on rain-softened ground, Christmas Day handled the conditions best. The race fanned across the track as riders searched for better footing on Epsom’s camber, and the Derby was described as the slowest since 1983. Even in those testing conditions, Christmas Day traveled comfortably, and when Whelan asked him to quicken, he lengthened decisively. Maltese Cross finished second and James J Braddock was another 2 1/2 lengths back in third, but neither threatened the winner once he hit top gear.

For Whelan, the ride transformed a career that had long lived in the shadow of O’Brien’s deeper bench. He said the win “hasn't really sunk in,” and after a day when the weather and the stalls drama tilted the race into chaos, his timing on the outsider from Ballydoyle looked impeccable. O’Brien said Christmas Day had “done nothing but improve,” called him genuine, tough and soft-ground capable, and said Whelan gave him “a beautiful ride.” He also described the colt as Camelot’s first Derby winner.

The victory carried added weight for O’Brien, who reached 50 British Classic winners, and it came a day after his son Joseph O’Brien won the Oaks with Thundering On, completing a family double at Epsom. King Charles III and Queen Camilla were in attendance for the presentation of the £1 million prize, but the image that mattered most was Christmas Day powering home through the mud, the best horse on the day in a Derby that delivered chaos, confirmation and legacy all at once.