The 247th renewal of the world’s most famous race, the £2 million Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs today, saw a record-extending 12th victory for trainer Aidan O’Brien as Christmas Day (7-1) came out on top. There was added celebration for the master of Ballydoyle as this was his 50th Betfred British Classic success in total, his first having come 28 years ago with King Of Kings in the 1998 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

A son of 2012 Derby hero Camelot and a half-brother to multiple Stakes winner Missed The Cut, Christmas Day was partnered by Ronan Whelan today on his third Derby ride.

Christmas Day tracked leader and stablemate Action before going to the front entering the final three furlongs. He galloped on resolutely to come home two and three-quarter lengths to the good over Maltese Cross with another two and a half lengths back to James J Braddock in third.

Aidan O’Brien was responsible for four contenders in total in this year’s race including Benvenuto Cellini (3-1 Favourite), who was deemed a non-runner after his left hind leg was caught in the stalls. Rules 4 applies with a deduction of 25p in the £ on all winning bets.

Winning rider Ronan Whelan said: "It's just very surreal. It just all went too easy and felt so smooth. I knew when the rain came my lad would love it, and the stars aligned for me, really.

“It sounds weird saying it, but I had a really good feeling down at the start, I knew he felt great going to post, and I knew once I got up beside Wayne and I got into my flow, I knew I was going to run a big race after a couple of furlongs. Obviously, you never count your chickens until you pass the line. I suppose the beauty about being on the fourth string is there’s a lot less pressure. If things don’t go right, it’s not the end of the world - nobody’s expecting too much.

“It literally worked out how we thought it would, and he’s done it easy and so smooth.

“We walked the track earlier and I thought on the fresh ground it was fine. I personally and the team didn’t see any advantage from going from so far in to so far out. My horse went a little bit wide with me and there was company there, so I didn’t want to bring him over to the rail and be on my own - he was happy where he was and in a rhythm where I was, and I just found a nice line and he went and won the Derby!

“The beauty about riding for Aidan is that he kills you with confidence - don’t be afraid to go, if these are fit, they’ll stay - he’d rather you get them going than keep sitting for too long. You know when you go for them and they pick up, sometimes when you go for them and they’re floundering in the last furlong. When I went for him, every time I gave him a squeeze he went forward and forward, and I knew on the ground, I didn’t think anyone was going to run us down.

“I’ve been lucky, I‘ve had some big days, but in a first jockey position you feel the pressure a lot more, and it’s then a huge burst of emotion and relief. Today was very cool and smooth, the race couldn’t have gone any better and it just felt like a bit of work.

“To be here riding for these connections in this atmosphere, it is the stuff of dreams.”

Tom Marquand, rider of runner-up Maltese Cross, said: “Everything went perfect for us. He was feeling fantastic and he took the first two-thirds of the race great.

“It all went smooth and I thought my scrap was going to be similar to Lingfield with the Beckett horse (eventual fourth Bay Of Brilliance), but he just fell off a little bit earlier than ideal to take us towards Christmas Day, but the winner was very good. He bowled away up the middle and made it too hard for us to catch him.

“Our lad has run fantastic and George (Waud, owner) and the team are thrilled. You’d love to be the winner in a race like this but we gave it a good crack and we’ve got a really fun horse for the rest of the year.

“He didn't love the ground, but he’s super honest and talented and he travelled super. I’m looking forward to getting him on a bit better ground and seeing if he can turn the tables.”

Kevin Blake, part owner of third-placed James J Braddock, said: “He ran a stormer and we are very, very proud of him. He showed some immaturity in the prelims and he did that before the Ballysax but he was much better last time. But this is the ultimate test of the thoroughbred and the prelims are part of it. It’s something that can be fixed. I need to watch it again but it seemed a really attritional Derby and he hit the line well. It’s only the fifth run of his life.

“The last 24 hours have been horrendous but they’ve been brilliant. To be honest when he started to behave as he did your shoulders do drop a little bit, so it was quiet waiting for the race to happen, but the horse has acquitted himself so well we are so proud of him. For a horse like him to end up here and be placed in a Derby - we’ve all got such a kick out of it. It’s the greatest race in the world.”

Ralph Beckett, trainer of fourth-placed Bay Of Brilliance, said: “Hector (Crouch) said if he’d stood up on him in the last furlong he'd have stopped to a walk, so he’s got there on sheer willpower, but we kind of knew he was made like that. I’m very proud of him.”

Hector Crouch, rider of Bay Of Brilliance, said: “When I paired off with Tom (Marquand on eventual second Maltese Cross) at the top of the straight I thought I was there with every chance, but he didn’t really get home. I thought the ground would play to his strengths, being by New Bay, but it seemed to suck the life out of him, and he didn’t skip off it like he did at Lingfield. But he’s a high-class horse and there’s a lot to look forward to.”

Richard Hannon, trainer of fifth-placed Alderman, said: “It was a great run on Julie’s birthday (owner Julie Wood) and I think he was unlucky not to finish fourth. He got to the line strong, and we’ll look forward to the St Leger.”

Charlie Johnston, trainer of Ancient Egypt (8th), said: “For the second year in a row, for a brief second, I got a bit excited. I thought David got him into a perfect position, travelled into it really well – he was tanking behind the winner turning in. He just said that when he let him down on that ground, he was galloping into the floor, he was really floundering in it. But the first three-quarters of the race gave me optimism that he belongs in this sort of company. We shall see, I’m sure Kia will want him to go to Ascot; that will come pretty quick after a tough race in those conditions, but I thought there were positives to take home.”

Colin Keane, rider of Item (9th), said: “It was the ground, simple as that.”

4:00pm Betfred Derby (Group 1) 1m 4f 6y – full finishing order

1 (5) Christmas Day (IRE) 3 9 2 Magnier/Tabor/Smith/Westerberg/Brant Aidan O'Brien Ireland R. P. Whelan 7-1

2 (1) Maltese Cross (FR) 3 9 2 Mr George Waud William Haggas Tom Marquand 12-1

3 (13) James J Braddock 3 9 2 Aziz Kheir Aust Partners & Kevin Blake Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Dylan Browne McMonagle 9-1

4 (9) Bay of Brilliance 3 9 2 Valmont Ralph Beckett Hector Crouch 9-1

5 (6) Alderman 3 9 2 Mrs J. Wood Richard Hannon Pat Dobbs 100-1

6 (14) Rebel Rocker 3 9 2 Miss Jennifer Dorey Faye Bramley Rob Hornby 66-1

7 (8) Pierre Bonnard (IRE) 3 9 2 Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg Aidan O'Brien Ireland C. Soumillon 7-2

8 (10) Ancient Egypt (IRE) 3 9 2 Amo Racing Limited Charlie Johnston David Egan 28-1

9 (3) Item 3 9 2 Juddmonte Andrew Balding Colin Keane 11-2

10 (7) A Taste of Glory (GER) 3 9 2 Ahmad Al Shaikh Andrew Balding Jamie Spencer 100-1

11 (2) Balzac (GER) 3 9 2 Mrs Jane Chapple-Hyam Jane Chapple-Hyam Silvestre De Sousa 66-1

12 (11) Action (IRE) p 3 9 2 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien Ireland W. M. Lordan 16-1

13 (4) Poker (IRE) p 3 9 2 Amo Racing Limited K. R. Burke Rowan Scott 80-1

NR (12) Benvenuto Cellini (IRE) 3 9 2 Brant/Magnier/Tabor/Smith/Westerberg Aidan O'Brien Ireland Ryan Moore

Aidan O’Brien’s 50 Betfred British Classic winners

Betfred 1000 Guineas (8 winners) – Virginia Waters (2005), Homecoming Queen (2012), Minding (2016), Winter (2017), Hermosa (2019), Love (2020), Mother Earth (2021), True Love (2026)

Betfred 2000 Guineas (10 winners) - King of Kings (1998), Rock of Gibraltar (2002), Footstepsinthesand (2005), George Washington (2006), Henrythenavigator (2008), Camelot (2012), Gleneagles (2015), Churchill (2017), Saxon Warrior (2018), Magna Grecia (2019)

Betfred Oaks (11 wins) - Shahtoush (1998), Imagine (2001), Alexandrova (2006), Was (2012), Qualify (2015), Minding (2016), Forever Together (2018), Love (2020), Snowfall (2021), Tuesday (2022), Minnie Hauk (2025)

Betfred Derby (12 wins) - Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002), Camelot (2012), Ruler of the World (2013), Australia (2014), Wings of Eagles (2017), Anthony Van Dyck (2019), Serpentine (2020), Auguste Rodin (2023), City of Troy (2024), Lambourn (2025), Christmas Day (2026)

Betfred St Leger (9 wins) - Milan (2001), Brian Boru (2003), Scorpion (2005), Leading Light (2013), Capri (2017), Kew Gardens (2018), Continuous (2023), Jan Brueghel (2024), Scandinavia (2025)