Christmas Day leads to Derby victory at Epsom for Aidan O’Brien

Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien cruised to victory in the Derby at Epsom on Christmas Day to give him a record-extending 12th victory in the Classic.

Along with Ronan Whelan, the 7-1 son of 2012 Derby winner Camelot was right behind the action before moving into the final stretch and storming home.

Maltese Cross, ridden by Tom McQuand, was second, James J. Braddock, with jockey Dylan Brown McMonagle, was third.

“It was very simple,” Whelan told ITV Racing. “Aidan told me to keep it simple.

“The horse did it very easily. He loves the ground and found it very easy for him.”

A Christmas Day victory gave Ballydoyle handler O’Brien his 50th victory in a British Classic.

“He’s done nothing but improve this horse, he’s very genuine and he lives and handles on soft ground,” O’Brien said. “Ronon gave him a nice ride, he was so confident in him.”

“Everyone knows I’m a small part of a big team in Ballydoyle, there’s a lot of people who do a lot of work, in the office, on the field, who I won’t mention.

“It’s incredible that he’s by Camelot, who won the Derby for us when Joseph (O’Brien) rode him and Joseph’s horse (James J. Braddock) ran well.”

There were four runners in O’Brien’s race with Christmas Day, Action, Pierre Bonnard and favorite Benvenuto Cellini, who was declared a non-runner because he had one leg as the stalls opened.