DERBY day dawns. Betfred Derby day. From afar, it looked like there was a buzz back on the Epsom Downs yesterday on Oaks day, and hopefully that buzz will be even buzzier today.

Thundering On was brilliant in winning the Oaks yesterday, under a masterful ride, on what was obviously a memorable day for her young trainer and her young jockey. And Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle could make it a weekend for the ages as they team up today with James J Braddock in the Derby.

And not dissimilar to Thundering On, James J Braddock is a coming horse. He was impressive in winning his maiden at the Curragh last September on heavy ground, when he came clear of his stable companion Cannes, who was impressive himself in winning his maiden over 12 furlongs at Leopardstown last month.

James J Braddock was well beaten in the Ballysax Stakes on his debut this season, but he left that run well behind when he won the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial back at Leopardstown last time.

He did well to win that day. He sat off the prominent racers through the early part of the race, in a race that was not run at a fast pace, so he did well to stay on as well as he did, getting up close home to beat Pierre Bonnard and Endorsement by a short-head and a neck.

He was fastest through each of the last two furlongs in a race in which the finishing speed was over 109% of overall speed.

Step forward

That was just his fourth run, he has taken a step forward every time he has raced, and he has the potential to step forward again. He has never been beyond 10 furlongs, but he finished off his race strongly last time over that trip and, out of a mare who won over 10 and a half furlongs in France, a half-sister to The Reverend, who won an Old Borough Cup over a mile and six furlongs, he has every chance of getting a mile and a half. He could even improve again for the step up in distance.

The forecast rain shouldn’t hold any worries either. While he won the Cashel Palace on good ground, he was seriously impressive in winning his maiden last season on heavy. Indeed, the worry going into the Leopardstown races centred around whether or not he could be as effective on the better ground.

The Zarak colt represents a top-class trainer/jockey combination that is red hot at present, and his draw in stall 13 is not a negative. It may even be a positive on the ground.

Coolmore Coronation Cup

Earlier in the day, the Coolmore Coronation Cup has been billed as a re-match between last year’s 1-2, Jan Brueghel and Calandagan, and that may be how it will pan out all right.

Aidan O’Brien’s horse got home by a half a length in the race last year, but Calandagan exacted his revenge in the King George at Ascot almost two months later. Then Francis Graffard’s horse went on to win the Champion Stakes, and he rounded off his year with a famous victory in the Japan Cup.

He looked good on his first run in 2026 too when he won the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March, and he is the correct favourite.

With the concentration on the top two, however, it may be that Convergent’s chance has been a little under-rated. Karl Burke’s horse has plenty to find with the top two on ratings, but he is on a serious upward trajectory now, and he could take another significant step forward.

Beaten a short-head in the German Derby last July, he did really well to win the Group 3 CMG Group Stakes at Leopardstown during the Irish Champions Festival last September, given that he raced really keenly through the early part of the race.

He stepped up in grade next time for a Group 2 race at Longchamp in October, and he stayed on well on the good to soft ground to get up and beat the multiple Group 1 winner Dubai Honour.

He looked good too on his debut this season when he won the John Porter Stakes at Newbury. He didn’t have a lot of racing room from the two-furlong marker, he had to switch out but, when he did, he showed an impressive turn of foot to get up and beat the talented Newbury specialist Al Aasy by a half a length, conceding a 5lb penalty.

This is obviously a step up to a new level, but he is a high-class colt, who has run just eight times and who retains the potential for further progression.

He shouldn’t mind the rain either, three of his five wins have been gained on ground that was softer than good, and he could put it up to the big two.

Recommended:

Convergent, 2.40 Epsom,

13/2 (generally), 1 point win

James J Braddock, 4.00 Epsom, 9/1 (generally), 1 point win