Christmas Day

His journey to the top has been a gradual one. He broke his duck at Gowran Park in September 2025, and those around him had been patient — after a promising debut, things didn't quite click in his second race, but the feeling from the yard was always that the best was ahead of him. The trainer's representative noted after that first win that once Christmas Day filled out physically, he would become a big, imposing three-year-old. That assessment looks prophetic now.

The horse trained by Aidan O'Brien at Cashel, one of the most powerful yards in Europe, went on to win the Eyrefield Stakes on his final run of his juvenile season — a result O'Brien described as showing real attitude and good progress. The plan heading into this year was always to aim at a Derby trial, suggesting the team believes there is genuine top-level ability here. O'Brien's yard has sent out 144 winners this season alone, so Christmas Day is operating within an enormously competitive string — and still making himself noticed.

That confidence has been vindicated emphatically. His recent form reads 1-1-1-5-3 in his last five races, with the three consecutive wins culminating in a victory at Leopardstown just this week. Leopardstown is one of Ireland's most prestigious venues, and winning there at this stage of the season, in the middle of what already looks like a Derby campaign, is exactly the kind of performance that gets people talking. Three wins from his last five races, with only one finish outside the places in that span, points to a horse who has found his rhythm and is improving with each outing.

At three years old with momentum behind him, a famous trainer in his corner, and the Classic season just getting started, Christmas Day is very much a horse to watch.