2026 Betfred Derby
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.
1st CHRISTMAS DAY Ronan Whelan 7-1*
2nd MALTESE CROSS Tom Marquand 12-1* 2¾ lengths
3rd JAMES J BRADDOCK Dylan Browne McMonagle 9-1* 2½ lengths
Also ran: 4th 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. On settling down, and to the top of the hill, there was little change in the order, where 15 lengths would cover the field.
Down to Tattenham Corner, Wayne Lordan kept Action leading to three furlongs out, from where Christmas Day, forged ahead.
Now pushed out with Ronan Whelan aboard, Christmas Day, drifting right stayed on well, revelling in the soggy ground to win by 2¾ lengths from the running on Maltese Cross.
James J Braddock finished 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 12th Derby winner (with nine different jockeys) and Mrs John (Sue) Magnier and Michael Tabor’s 11th 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.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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,
__________________________________________________________________________________