Whelan Aims for Derby Double

Jockey Ronan Whelan is chasing history this Sunday at the Curragh, aiming for a rare Derby double after riding Christmas Day to an Epsom triumph. Now back on Aidan OBrien’s colt for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby—a €1.25 million prize race where only six horses have ever won both Derbies. Once considered an outsider at Epsom, Christmas Day’s performance has vaulted him to contender status, with Ryan Moore opting for Benvenuto Cellini. Better ground conditions at the Curragh could favor Christmas Day, especially after Benvenuto Cellini’s poor showing on soft turf. Aidan O’Brien seeks his 18th Irish Derby win, with his sons Joseph and Donnacha also in the field, adding family drama. The race is part of the World Pool for the fourth time, boosting global betting and drawing massive crowds to the Curragh’s biggest event. With unbeaten Raaheeb and other top horses in the mix, the outcome hinges on ground and stall behavior. With the race at 4:35 PM, Whelan—whose racing roots run deep—has another shot at glory, echoing his memorable Epsom win with his father. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b1e817b3bc70a3db