James J Braddock secured a narrow victory over market favourite Pierre Bonnard in the Group Three Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial at Leopardstown, shifting betting odds for the upcoming Epsom Derby on June 6. Previously priced at 66-1, James J Braddock is now listed at 16-1 for the prestigious race.

Pierre Bonnard, trained by Aidan O’Brien and a winter favourite for the Derby, started as the 5-6 favourite in the trial, aiming to redeem himself after a disappointing seventh-place finish in last month’s Ballysax Stakes at Foxrock. However, it was Joseph O’Brien-trained James J Braddock, named after the 1930s American heavyweight boxing champion “Cinderella Man,” who clinched the win by a short head in a closely contested finish.

Endorsement, also trained by Aidan O’Brien and returning after a second-place finish behind stablemate Christmas Day in a Leopardstown race four weeks earlier, finished third by a neck, rounding out the tight finish among the leading contenders.

Following the race, Joseph O’Brien commented that they had initially considered targeting the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot with James J Braddock but acknowledged that the horse’s victory in a Derby trial now positions him as a potential contender in an open and competitive Derby field.

Separately, attention also turned to Longchamp in France, where the French versions of the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas took place. Aidan O’Brien’s filly Diamond Necklace, ridden by Ryan Moore, captured the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches with a commanding three-length victory, impressing observers with her performance. O’Brien noted her lineage, pointing out that she inherited promising traits from her sire St Mark’s Basilica, who won both the French Guineas and Derby.

In the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, O’Brien’s Puerto Rico entered as the odds-on favourite but finished fourth. The race was won by Rayif, trained by Francis Graffard, who overcame the favourite to claim victory.