'It's just very surreal' - Kildare jockey lands Epsom Derby

Monasterevin jockey Ronan Whelan enjoyed the biggest win of his career as he partered the Aidan O’Brien trained Christmas Day to win the 247th renewal of the £2 million Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs today. It was a record-extending 12th victory for the trainer Aidan O’Brien, and 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 Whelan’s mount 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.

Winning rider 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.”