Michael Church Racing Books

249                       THUNDERING ON                  2026

 RUN on Friday, 5 June 2026, as the Betfred Oaks, over the Derby Course of one mile and a half and 6 yards, Epsom Downs. For three-year-old fillies, 9st 2lb. Going Good to Soft. Value to winner £354,437.

1^st   THUNDERING ON             Dylan  Browne McMonagle    5-1

2^nd  LEGACY LINK                    Colin Keane           3-1         3¾  lengths

3^rd  SUGAR ISLAND                  Ronan Whelan   25-1         6   lengths

Also ran: 4^th A La Prochaine (Ronan Whelan) 22-1; Cameo (Wayne Lordan) 7-1; Amelia Earhart (Ryan Moore) 7-4 Fav; On Message (Hector Crouch) 25-1 (tailed off); K Sarra (Rossa Ryan (tailed off); Venetian Lace (William Buick) 14-1 (tailed off, last).

 Commentary: The Aidan O’Brien trained Cheshire Oaks winner, Amelia Earhart, was a well backed favourite at 7-4, albeit hooded and blinkered. Legacy Link, having won the Musidora at York, was a popular alternative at 3-1. Young Joseph O’Brien’s Thundering On, having improved to win the Salsabil Stakes at Navan, went off third favourite at 5-1.

On settling down, Sugar Island, under Ronan Whelan, set the pace from stable companion Cameo, with Amelia Earhart (hidden), close up.

The order was maintained until 2 furlongs out, where racing centre-to-stand’s side, Legacy Link joined Sugar Island.

Meanwhile, Thundering On, under Dylan Browne McMonagle, having come from the back of the field, now joined them, looming up the inside with a double handful.

From the 1 furlong marker, Thundering On drew right away to win impressively by 3¾ lengths and 6 lengths. 

    9 ran  Time 2min 39.64 sec

THUNDERING ON was BRED and OWNED by Shapoor Mistry. TRAINED by Joseph Patrick O’Brien at Owning Hill, Co. Kilkenny.

The winner, THUNDERING ON (ch.f. 2023), has won 2 races from 5 starts incl, Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes at Navan and the Betfred Oaks, Epsom.

The sire, FRANKEL (b.c. 2008) ex KIND by DANEHILL, (unbeaten), won 14 races incl. Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, St James’s Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes, (twice), Queen Anne Stakes, International Stakes, Champion Stakes. Sire of 8 British Classic winners, incl. 4 Oaks winners since retiring to Judmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud in 2013: ANAPURNA , 2019; SOUL SISTER, 2023; MINNIE HAUK 2025 and THUNDERING ON 2026.

The dam, THUNDERING NIGHTS (b.f. 2017) by NIGHT OF THUNDER, won 4 races from 14 starts incl. Pretty Polly Stakes, The Curragh. THUNDERING ON was her only foal.

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248                               CHRISTMAS DAY                          2026

Run on Saturday, 7 June, 2026 as the Betfred Derby over the Derby Course of one mile and a half and 6 yards, Epsom Downs. For three-year-olds; entire colts 9st 2lb, fillies 8st 13lb. 90 entries. Going SOFT. Value to winner £1,000,000.

1^st     CHRISTMAS DAY            Ronan Whelan     7-1*

2^nd    MALTESE CROSS           Tom Marquand   12-1*                 2¾ lengths

3^rd   JAMES J BRADDOCK    Dylan Browne McMonagle   9-1*    2½ lengths

 Also ran: 4^th  Bay Of Brilliance (Hector Crouch) 9-1*; Alderman (Pat Dobbs) 100-1*; Rebel Rocker (Rob Hornby) 66-1*; Pierre Bonnard (Christophe Soumillon) 7-2*; Ancient Egypt (David Egan) 28-1*; Item (Colin Keane) 11-2* (tailed off); A Taste Of Glory (Jamie Spencer) 100-1* (tailed off) ; Balzak (Silvestre de Sousa) 66-1 (tailed off) ; Action (Wayne Lordan) 16-1* (tailed off); Poker (Rowan Scott) 80-1* (tailed off  last 43½ lengths behind the winner).

Non Runner: Benvenuto Cellini (awkward start, towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon short of room, weakened over 1f out, declared a non-runner by the stewards, leg caught in the stalls). Rule 4* applies to all bets, was 3-1 fav, deduction 25p in the pound.

 Commentary: On a day of continuous rain in which the going changed before the Derby to SOFT, two overhead cameras were placed in the stalls, one above the 3-1 favourite, Benvenuto Cellini in stall 12 (which was to play a significant part in the result), the other above Item, in stall 3.

Aidan O’Brien ran four from which Ryan Moore chose Benvenuto Cellini, the winner of the Chester Vase on good ground, but previously disappointing when only third on heavy ground in the Doncaster Futurity. Well backed into 7-2 second favourite,  Pierre Bonnard, had won the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud on very soft ground, while Item, winner of the Dante Stakes ahead of O’Brien’s Action and Christmas Day, weakened to 11-2.

As the rain persisted, Action, Ancient Egypt and Christmas Day broke well from the stalls, while Benvenuto Cellini and Taste Of Glory were slowly away.

Down to Tattenham Corner, Wayne Lordan kept Action leading to three furlongs out.

Pushed along by Ronan Whelan, and drifting right, Christmas Day stayed on well, revelling in the soggy ground.

Now in command, Christmas Day went on to win by 2¾ lengths from the running on Maltese Cross.

James J Braddock went on to finish third a further 2½ lengths away, with Bay Of Brilliance fourth.

The alarm for a stewards’ enquiry quickly followed from which Benvenuto Cellini was declared a non-runner.

13 ran    Time 2min 43.75 sec; the slowest since Teenoso’s 2 min 49.07 secs in 1983.

This was Aidan O’Brien’s record 12^th Derby winner (with nine different jockeys) and Mrs John (Sue) Magnier and Michael Tabor’s 11^th in partnership.

The winner was BRED by Framont Ltd, OWNED by Mrs John (Sue) Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Peter Brant and TRAINED by A.P. O’Brien at Cashel, Co. Tipperary.

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The winner, CHRISTMAS DAY, has won 4 races from 7 starts incl. Eyrefield Stakes and Ballysax Stakes, Leopardstown, Betfred Derby Stakes. Third behind Item and Action in Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes, York

The sire, CAMELOT (b.c. 2009), won 6 races from 10 starts incl. Racing Post Trophy, Qicpo 2,000 Guineas Stakes, Investec Derby Stakes, Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. Second in Ladbrokes St Leger Stakes

The dam, BEAULY (ch.f. 2013) by SEA THE STARS ex PICKLE, won 3 races from 16 starts incl. Indiana General Assembly Distaff Stakes, Indiana. She also bred MISSED THE CUT b.c.2019 by QUALITY ROAD won 7 races from 20 starts incl. Churchill Stakes, Lingfield (AW), Tokyo City Cup, San Luis Rey Stakes and San Marco Stakes, Santa Anita.

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