Tipperary celebrates another Epsom Derby winner for Aidan O’Brien
Christmas Day puts punters in the festive mood
Christmas came early for Tipperary-based trainer Aidan O’Brien and the team at Ballydoyle when Christmas Day won this afternoon’s Epsom Derby.
It was a 50th British Classic, and a 12th Betfred Derby, for Aidan O’Brien, coming 25 years after he won the race for the first time with Galileo.
The race was something of a family affair, with Aidan O’Brien’s son Joseph training the third-placed horse James J Braddock, which is part-owned by horse racing television pundit Kevin Blake from Golden, Tipperary.
Maltese Cross (12/1) finished second.
Favourite Benvenuto Cellini, which is also trained by Aidan O’Brien, was deemed a non-runner by stewards after the race, after they ruled he had a hind leg the wrong side of the barrier in the stalls, although he went on to complete the race.
7/1 shot Christmas Day was ridden by Ronan Whelan, from Monasterevin, Kildare, who stated "It was just so easy. Aidan told me just to keep it simple. I had Wayne (Lordan on Action) to do the fractions. When Wayne is in front he never gets it wrong so I knew if I was alongside him I was in safe hands.
"The horse just did it so easy, it just felt so effortless for him".
"He's done nothing but improve all the time, he's so genuine,” Aidan O’Brien said of the winner, a first to be sired by 2012 Derby hero Camelot, at Coolmore.
"He stays and he handles soft ground. Ronan gave him a beautiful ride, very straightforward.
"He's a very tough, hardy horse and he's by the right sire".
About Benvenuto Cellini, he said "That's why he came out slow but that happens, it's horseracing and that's the way it was. Ryan ended up back a little bit and I think he was coming through but him and Christophe (Soumillon on Pierre Bonnard, seventh) got sandwiched a bit in the straight.
"I think he (Benvenuto Cellini) is fine, he's a hardy horse.
"Conditions were tough and there was nowhere to hide out there. I think a lot of those horses might leave that run behind but take nothing away from the winner".