We enjoyed a dramatic renewal of the Derby in 2026, with a deluge of rain contributing to the slowest time since 1983, and non-runner controversy in the aftermath.
Aidan O’Brien sent four into battle in his bid to win the race for the fourth consecutive year. Benvenuto Cellini was the choice of Ryan Moore and the betting market following his eye-catching win in the Chester Vase. Strong market support propelled 2025 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Pierre Bonnard into second favouritism, with Belgian ace Christophe Soumillon taking the ride. Action and Christmas Day rounded out the O’Brien quartet, having finished second and third in the Dante Stakes. Both had solid form in Group 1 company, with Christmas Day also having proven himself on heavy ground.
Joseph O’Brien added to the Irish challenge with James J Braddock. While not as obviously bred for Derby success as others in the field, he arrived on the back of a win in the Leopardstown Derby Trial, when getting up late to deny Pierre Bonnard.
Andrew Balding’s Dante Stakes winner, Item, was the shortest price of the home team as he sought to extend his unbeaten record to four. The Lingfield Derby Trial was also strongly represented by the winner Maltese Cross, and runner-up Bay Of Brilliance.
Others to note included Charlie Johnston’s Newmarket Stakes winner Ancient Egypt, Blue Riband Trial Stakes runner-up Rebel Rocker, from the small Faye Bramley operation, and A Taste Of Glory, who represented the latest attempt of Ahmad Al Shaikh to unearth an unlikely Derby hero.
Result
- 1st – Christmas Day 7/1, Jockey: Ronan Whelan, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd – Maltese Cross 12/1, Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: Willam Haggas
- 3rd – James J Braddock 9/1, Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £1,000,000
- 2nd – £400,000
- 3rd – £200,000
- 4th – £130,000
- 5th – £80,000
- 6th – £50,000
- 7th – £35,000
- 8th – £30,000
- 9th – £25,000
- 10th – £20,000
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £6.50
- Tote Places – 1st – £2.25, 2nd – £2.60, 3rd – £3.15
- Exacta – £62.70
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £49.67
- Trifecta – £442.10
- Tricast – £326.09
Recap
With four runners in the field, it seemed likely that one of the O’Brien quartet would aim to set the fractions. When the stalls opened, Action emerged as the pacesetter, with the Dante runner-up kicked straight into the lead by the 2025 winning rider Wayne Lordan. Stablemate Christmas Day was bustled up on the outside to sit on the heels of the leader, with Ancient Egypt and Rebel Rocker also gaining a prominent early position. Item, Bay Of Brilliance, and James J Braddock were among those in midfield, with Pierre Bonnard and Maltese Cross further back in the pack. Market leader Benvenuto Cellini sat second last following a slow start.
Climbing uphill towards the 6f marker, Action set a sensible pace given the arduous conditions. Christmas Day was only a length back, with Rebel Rocker racing a little wider in third. Item had made a move into fourth, flanked by Ancient Egypt, with Maltese Cross sixth against the inside rail. The shortest priced of the O’Brien team, Benvenuto Cellini and Pierre Bonnard, raced together in the second half of the field, with A Taste Of Glory bringing up the rear.
Turning left-handed and running downhill towards Tattenham Corner, Action continued to hold a narrow lead over Christmas Day, with a length back to Item and Ancient Egypt, who raced together in third and fourth. Maltese Cross, Balzac, and Rebel Rocker made up the next wave of three. Benvenuto Cellini still a long way off the pace and nearer last than first. A few runners were beginning to feel the pace at this stage, most notably Poker, who dropped back to last.
Moving into the straight, Christmas Day was pushed forward to take the lead from Action towards the inside, with Item sitting just in behind. The bulk of the field stuck to the centre of the track but had ground to make up on the leading trio. From out of that group, Rebel Rocker stuck to his task, while Maltese Cross began to stay on dourly under Tom Marquand. Further back, James J Braddock and Pierre Bonnard began to make a move, but Benvenuto Cellini’s challenge quickly fizzled out.
Hitting the furlong pole, Christmas Day had really found his stride to move four lengths clear. Maltese Cross stuck on determinedly in an effort to bridge the gap, followed by Bay Of Brilliance and James J Braddock. None of that trio ever looked like getting to Christmas Day, who saw it out well to score by 2¾l from Maltese Cross, with James J Braddock running a fine race in third.
The aftermath of the 2026 Derby saw the unusual situation of a horse completing the course but declared a non-runner for betting purposes. A review of the race revealed that Benvenuto Cellini’s tardy start came as a result of the colt having his leg up on the stalls as they opened. Deemed to have been unfairly disadvantaged, the stewards declared the tenth-place finisher a non-runner, seeing all stakes returned on the favourite and a 25p deduction to all other bets.
The apparent Ballydoyle fourth string on jockey bookings, Christmas Day, handed Aidan O’Brien a record-extending 12th Epsom Derby success. A memorable afternoon for 33-year-old rider Ronan Whelan, who won his first Classic on British or Irish shores.
Runners
- 1. Action – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Wayne Lordan
- 2. Alderman – SP: 100/1, Trainer: Richard Hannon, Jockey: Pat Dobbs
- 3. Ancient Egypt – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Charlie Johnston, Jockey: David Egan
- 4. A Taste Of Glory – SP: 100/1, Trainer: Andrew Balding, Jockey: Jamie Spencer
- 5. Balzac – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam, Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
- 6. Bay Of Brilliance – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Ralph Beckett, Jockey: Hector Crouch
- 7. Benvenuto Cellini – SP: 3/1F, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore
- 8. Christmas Day – SP: 7/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ronan Whelan
- 9. Item – SP: 11/2, Trainer: Andrew Balding, Jockey: Colin Keane
- 10. James J Braddock – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien, Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle
- 11. Maltese Cross – SP: 12/1, Trainer: William Haggas, Jockey: Tom Marquand
- 12. Pierre Bonnard – SP: 7/2, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
- 13. Poker – SP: 80/1, Trainer: Karl Burke, Jockey: Rowan Scott
- 14. Rebel Rocker – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Faye Bramley, Jockey: Rob Hornby
Non-Runners
Benvenuto Cellini (completed the course but deemed a non-runner due to a problem at the start)