Christmas Day, backed from 18-1 overnight to a starting price of 7-1, won the 247th Derby on Saturday, finishing two-and-three-quarter lengths ahead of Maltese Cross. The Aidan O'Brien-trained winner took the lead at the three-furlong pole and stayed on strongly, while stablemate Benvenuto Cellini, the 3-1 favourite, finished near the back of the 14-strong field.
Drama unfolded after the race when a stewards' inquiry ruled that Benvenuto Cellini should be declared a non-runner. The horse had caught a hind leg on a rail in his stall at the start, causing him to miss the break by a stride. Shaun Parker, the British Horseracing Authority's head of stewarding, said the horse's race had been 'negatively affected' and the decision was made under Rule H6.
The ruling created a headache for bookmakers, as favourite backers were due refunds while those who backed Christmas Day faced a 25p in the pound deduction from winnings. Ladbrokes, Coral and Boylesports waived the deduction, but others declined to follow suit.
For jockey Ronan Whelan, the win was a surreal experience. 'It just all went too easy and felt so smooth,' he said. 'I knew when the rain came my lad would love it.' Christmas Day, seemingly the least-fancied of O'Brien's four runners, had attracted significant support as rain softened the ground. He came into the Classic after finishing third in the Dante Stakes at York.
The victory extended O'Brien's record for Derby wins to 12, making him the first trainer in the race's history to win four in a row. It also took his British Classic haul to 50. Christmas Day is now likely to head to the Irish Derby at the Curragh later this month.
