Ballydoyle-based trainer Aidan O’Brien expects that Epsom Derby winner Christmas Day will run in the Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday next where we are likely to see a highly anticipated rematch with another of O’Brien’s horses, Benvenuto Cellini. O’Brien said that the Epsom result did not tell the full story when it came to Benvenuto Cellini and he expects a much stronger showing next time. The son of Frankel was controversially declared a non-runner after getting one of his hind legs caught in the starting stalls despite still jumping out and running in the race. It meant the horse had only had three legs on the ground when the stalls opened, thus being denied a fair start.
Over the years we have seen 20 horses win the English-Irish Derby double, the latest to do so was Lambourn last year to give Aidan O’Brien his 17th Irish Derby win. And I reckon the odds must be short on O’Brien doing the double again this year, but with which Coolmore-owned horse? Young Kildare jockey Ronan Whelan rode Christmas Day at Epsom to give O’Brien his 12th Epsom Derby and his 50th British Classic win and it will be interesting to see if O’Brien’s first choice jockey Ryan Moore will get the ride on Sunday or will Moore stay with Benvenuto Cellini. O’Brien and Moore are a good combination and they will be bidding for four in-a-row, having won the Irish Derby with Lambourn last year, Los Angeles in 2024 and Auguste Rodin in 2023. Clearly the Curragh Classic is a race that the modest O’Brien loves winning.
Last week O’Brien saddled his 100th winner at Ascot last Friday when Scandinavia, ridden by Ryan Moore, got up in the final strides to win a thrilling renewal of the Gold Cup. It was O’Brien’s tenth Gold Cup win, with jockey Ryan Moore claiming his fifth such win, at flat racing’s most prestigious festival.
