Wings Of Eagles caused a huge 40-1 upset in the Investec Derby at Epsom to propel jockey Padraig Beggy into the limelight.

With only two behind him with three furlongs to run, the son of 2011 Derby winner Pour Moi came from the clouds to claim his Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemate Cliffs Of Moher in the dying strides.

The result had looked like going with the form book as Cliffs Of Moher just got the better of the two Frankel colts, Cracksman and Eminent, inside the final furlong.

But that was not taking into account Wings Of Eagles, the apparent Ballydoyle fifth string, who provided O’Brien with a sixth Derby winner.

Beggy, having his first ride in the race, said: “That’s my first ride, but when you’re riding one for Aidan you don’t worry about the price, they always have a chance.

“I had a bit of bad luck in running but probably got there at the right time in the end.”

 O’Brien said in the press conference after the race: “Padraig gave the horse a brilliant ride. He saw him in all his work as Padraig rides work with Donnacha, they are partners so they would have seen all the work Wings Of Eagles did even if he didn’t ride him every day.

“Last year, we thought he was a nice horse and Seamus [Heffernan, jockey], who rode him in the Chester Vase and was delighted with him. He is a horse who travels well and quickens well. We were very happy with all the horses coming into the race.

“Padraig is a world-class rider. He has been with us a good while now and we really appreciate his work day in, day out every morning and obviously when we discussed what jockeys were riding in the Investec Derby, there was no question that Padraig wouldn’t ride.”