Aidan O`Brien further cemented his place among racing`s immortals when Christmas Day stormed to victory in the 247th Epsom Derby, giving the Ballydoyle maestro a record-extending 12th success in the Blue Riband and an unprecedented fourth consecutive Derby triumph. Yet, even as history was being made, a controversial post-race decision declaring favourite Benvenuto Cellini a non-runner sparked fierce debate and ensured the Classic would be remembered for more than just the winner.

The 247th running of the Derby at Epsom belonged to master trainer Aidan O`Brien, who continued his remarkable domination of the world`s most famous Classic by saddling Christmas Day to a commanding victory under jockey Ronan Whelan. The triumph gave O`Brien an unprecedented fourth successive Derby winner, his twelfth overall in the race, and his 50th British Classic winner, milestones that underline his status as one of racing`s greatest trainers.

For Whelan, it was a career-defining success as he joined an illustrious list of riders to have partnered Derby winners for the Ballydoyle maestro. At 56, O`Brien shows no signs of slowing down, and his latest achievement appears destined to stand as one of the most formidable records in the sport.

However, the race will also be remembered for a controversy that overshadowed the result. Favourite Benvenuto Cellini was declared a non-runner after the race following a stewards` inquiry into an incident at the start. Television replays showed the colt`s left hind leg trapped against the side partition of the starting stall as the gates opened, leaving him effectively launching from the gates on three legs and conceding valuable ground.

The stewards ruled that the colt had been denied a fair start and invoked a little-known rule to declare him a non-runner despite the race having been completed. The decision triggered widespread debate within racing circles, particularly because it resulted in deductions from winning bets while bookmakers were required to refund stakes on the favourite.

Former champion jockey Richard Hughes openly questioned the ruling, asking whether the same decision would have been taken had Benvenuto Cellini recovered to win comfortably. His comments reflected the confusion and dissatisfaction felt by many racegoers and punters. While the stewards followed the rulebook, the practicality and consistency of enforcing such regulations in future races remain open to debate.

Off the track, the Derby was staged with renewed ambition. The £2 million prize fund was distributed down to tenth place for the first time, while The Jockey Club introduced several initiatives aimed at boosting attendance and enhancing the race-day experience. Unfortunately, persistent rain and strong winds dampened both the atmosphere and crowd turnout.

The race itself lacked the depth normally associated with the Derby. None of the 14 runners had won a Group One race in Britain or Ireland, and several leading contenders from the spring trials opted for alternative targets. Soft ground further complicated matters, prompting jockeys to seek different racing lines throughout the afternoon.

When it mattered, however, Christmas Day proved the best horse on the day. The race was run at a searching pace early before turning into a gruelling stamina test in the closing stages, conditions that played perfectly to the winner`s strengths.

The son of Camelot, who had captured the Ballysax Stakes earlier in the season, raced prominently throughout and never allowed himself to be far from the action. From the same stall number five that his sire broke from when winning the Derby in 2012, Christmas Day travelled strongly before asserting his superiority in the final stages.

His stamina came to the fore as rivals began to weaken in the testing conditions. He finished powerfully to record the slowest Derby winning time since Teenoso`s victory in 1983, clocking 2 min 43.75 sec on rain-softened ground.

While he may require similar underfoot conditions to remain effective against the best middle-distance performers this season, Christmas Day has already established himself as a serious Classic performer. The manner of his victory suggests that longer-distance races such as the St Leger could be tailor-made for him, while his connections will undoubtedly look towards the Irish Derby with renewed confidence.

In the end, Epsom delivered both history and controversy. Aidan O`Brien extended a record that may never be surpassed, while the unprecedented post-race non-runner decision ensured that the 2026 Derby will be discussed long after the celebrations have faded.