Joseph O’Brien has already achieved more than most trainers could ever dream of, including the Epsom Oaks with Thundering On yesterday, but one glaring omission remains on his remarkable CV: the Epsom Derby.
That could change this year, and if it does, James J Braddock looks like the colt most likely to make it happen.
Still only in his early 30s, O’Brien has built a global reputation as a trainer capable of landing major prizes across multiple jurisdictions.
He has already won the Melbourne Cup twice as a trainer, and James J Braddock gives him a real shot at a first Derby win at Epsom.
The colt earned his place in the race by winning the Group 3 Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial at Leopardstown on 10 May 2026, when he got up late to beat Pierre Bonnard by a short head.
He also knows exactly what is required to win the Derby. As a jockey, he won the race on Camelot in 2012 and Australia in 2014 and now has a legitimate contender trying to give him his first success in the race as a trainer.
James J Braddock – Built for the Derby Test
James J Braddock was unbeaten in two key moments that mattered for Derby consideration. He won a Curragh maiden in impressive fashion on heavy ground in November 2025, then confirmed he is effective on a sounder surface when landing the Leopardstown Derby Trial in May 2026.
That Leopardstown run is the strongest piece of evidence for his Derby claims because it came against genuine opposition and came in a race used specifically to identify Epsom contenders.
In the trial, he was well held up before producing a late run to beat Pierre Bonnard in a photo finish.
That tells you two important things: he stays strongly enough to finish his race, and he can quicken after being ridden patiently.
It also showed he is not dependent on soft ground, though with the rain that has fallen over Epsom Downs this week, a bit of give won’t put him at a disadvantage.
Joseph O’Brien’s Growing Derby Credentials
Although he has yet to win the Derby as a trainer, O’Brien is far from inexperienced when it comes to the race.
As a jockey, he won the Derby twice aboard Camelot and Australia, both trained by his father. That experience is significant. He understands exactly what is required, not just in terms of ability, but also in how the race unfolds tactically.
Since transitioning to training, O’Brien has steadily built up his Derby operation. He has sent out runners capable of competing, but until now, perhaps none have arrived with quite the same combination of form, profile, and potential as James J Braddock.
There is also a sense that O’Brien’s training career is entering a new phase. His operation is more established, his methods more refined, and his confidence in placing horses in the right races is evident. When he targets a race now, it tends to be with serious intent.
Why the Race Could Suit Him
One of the key factors in any Derby is pace. A steadily run race can turn into a sprint, favouring those with tactical speed, while a strong gallop brings stamina into play, and James J Braddock looks adaptable enough to handle either scenario.
If the pace is strong, his stamina should allow him to keep finding when others begin to weaken. If it turns tactical, his ability to travel and quicken in the final furlongs could put him in the perfect position turning for home.
Positioning will be crucial. Epsom’s downhill run into Tattenham Corner often sees races won and lost before the straight. Given O’Brien’s experience, both as a jockey and trainer, you would expect clear instructions to ensure his runner is well placed at the key moment.
It is also worth noting that O’Brien is not afraid to be bold with tactics. That willingness to make decisive moves can be a major asset in a race where hesitation often proves costly.
The Main Threats
This year’s Epsom Derby brings a deep field, with Aidan O’Brien relying on Chester Vase winner Benvenuto Cellini, the general favourite as he chases a fourth straight Derby success after Lambourn, City Of Troy and Auguste Rodin.
His team also includes Christmas Day, winner of the Ballysax Stakes, plus Pierre Bonnard and Action, giving Ballydoyle a typically strong hand.
Away from Ballydoyle, Lingfield Derby Trial winner Maltese Cross and Andrew Balding’s Item, a highly regarded colt who enhanced his claims in the run-up, sit prominently in the betting and arrive with solid trial form behind them.
That underlines the strength in depth behind the market leaders and ensures James J Braddock is far from getting an easy route to Classic glory.
The Derby often finds out horses who look flawless in more conventional trials, especially those who are unproven at 1m4f or on a track as demanding as Epsom.
James J Braddock, by contrast, has already won a recognised 1m2f trial at Leopardstown and shown he can pick up again at the end of a truly–run race, giving him fewer obvious questions to answer than some of the flashier, shorter–priced rivals.
In a race that routinely exposes any chinks in stamina, temperament or balance, that relatively complete profile could be the decisive edge.
Verdict: A Genuine Chance at History
Joseph O’Brien does not need a Derby win to confirm his status as one of the leading trainers in the sport. But it would undoubtedly be a landmark achievement, and one that feels increasingly within reach.
James J Braddock gives him a genuine opportunity to finally crack the Epsom code, with the stamina, the temperament, and the tactical versatility required for the race.
That said, with two wins from two runs, there are others who are capable of seeing him off, including Christmas Day, who beat him in the Ballysax Stakes in April.
Nothing is guaranteed at Epsom, and it remains one of the most unpredictable Classics in the world. But if everything falls into place, Joseph O’Brien could well be celebrating his first Derby success.
And wouldn’t it be sweet if a colt named after one of sport’s great underdogs turned Epsom on its head and wrote his own Cinderella Man story in the Derby?
BETFRED
