"He's floating along under the radar" - Aidan O'Brien discusses his Derby contenders
Aidan O'Brien welcomed the press to Ballydoyle to share updates on his Epsom Derby runners. Benvenuto Cellini heads the betting after a strong Chester Vase win. While Constitution River shone at Chester, O'Brien suggested he may instead target the French Derby. Pierre Bonnard, despite a recent defeat, is expected to improve over longer distances. Christmas Day, another smart contender, will run in the Dante Stakes before possible Derby entry. O'Brien suggested Ryan Moore is likely to ride Benvenuto Cellini or Constitution River at Epsom.
- Benvenuto Cellini leads O'Brien's Derby hopefuls after Chester Vase win
- Constitution River may target the French Derby instead of Epsom
- Pierre Bonnard & Christmas Day remain strong contenders for Epsom Derby
Aidan O'Brien welcomed the press through the gates of Ballydoyle on Monday, and provided quotes on all of his potential Epsom Derby runners.
O'Brien has dominated the Epsom trials so far, and currently boasts four leading contenders for the Derby. This famous Classic has gone the way of Coolmore in six of the last nine years - but it's not always the supposed first string that gets the job done.
Ryan Moore rode Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy to victory. Padraig Beggy, Seamie Heffernan and Emmet McNamara have lifted the famous trophy too, and it was Wayne Lordan who claimed the bragging rights at Ballydoyle 12 months ago, making all aboard Chester Vase winner Lambourn.
Benvenuto Cellini struck in that trial this year, and currently tops the Epsom Derby betting. Constitution River was backed into as short as 9/2 after his triumph in the Dee Stakes, but O'Brien intimated in his stable tour that he might head to France rather than Epsom next month.
"Constitution River went to Chester as we knew he could be an Epsom or a French Derby horse." O'Brien explained. "We were happy that it was a mile and a quarter, in case he was going to go to France. The only thing is that if he is going to France, he's only gone left-handed. But we felt he looked very different going through all his work and looked very good last year. We were hoping and expecting to see that at Chester."
"Benvenuto Cellini has speed and class too and a big open stride. You'd be surprised if he didn't get a mile and a half but you would be surprised if he got much further. We think Pierre Bonnard will step up again after Sunday and is going to get a mile and a half and could get further."
Pierre Bonnard was expected to throw his name into the Derby ring, as he carried an odds-on price into Sunday's trial at Leopardstown. Wayne Lordan's mount was pipped to the post by Joseph O'Brien's challenger James J Braddock, but Aidan was still confident that his Group One winner would put up a challenge at Epsom.
"Pierre Bonnard was a massive, big horse last year and we purposefully let him get as big and as strong as we could over the winter because we didn't want him to turn into a shell early. We felt we had to run him the first day at Leopardstown and the race went a bit wrong and he needed it. Because of where he was, we couldn't go and attack into him and have him really ready for Sunday as he wouldn't carry on to the Derby.
"We stripped him back a bit more for Sunday and the pace was probably too slow, but he still ran very well. We think that he would step up big-time next time over a mile and a half. I know Benvenuto Cellini is a shorter price, but Pierre Bonnard is going to step up."
Christmas Day triumphed in the Ballysax Stakes in April, as the undercooked Pierre Bonnard finished a well-beaten seventh. He'll run in the Dante Stakes at York on Thursday, before potentially representing Ballydoyle at Epsom.
"Christmas Day is a smart horse." O'Brien said after that Ballysax triumph. "He won a Group race around here (Leopardstown) and then we were going to a Group One with him next time in France and he got a temperature and didn't get to go."
"Wayne (Lordan) said a mile and a quarter (was his best trip), be will stay further but he has pace and quickened up. He's very straightforward, he travel,s he quickens. Here's by Camelot and he's a lovely horse."
"He's just one of those horses that is very uncomplicated. He's kind of floating along under the radar the whole time."
On Monday, Aidan O'Brien was asked which horse Ryan Moore would ride in the Epsom Derby. Although he didn't give a definitive answer, O'Brien intimated that it would be either Benvenuto Cellini or Constitution River that got the nod.
"Ryan (Moore) would have to find it hard to get off Benvenuto Cellini but I'd imagine if Constitution River went, he could get off him. It definitely wouldn't be a given, Ryan would think a lot about that."
*2026 Epsom Derby betting with bet365*
9/4 Benvenuto Cellini, 6/1 Constitution River, 8/1 Maltese Cross, 12/1 Christmas Day, 16/1 Bar
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