Construction worker wins Epsom Derby bet after following horse tip found in 62-year-old time capsule
Unbiased summary
A construction site manager named Josh Smalls placed a £20 bet on a horse called Christmas Day at odds of 7-1 in the 2025 Epsom Derby, after workers on his site unearthed a time capsule containing coins and a handwritten note from 1964. The note, written by an unknown author, advised readers to back a horse with a Christmassy name. Christmas Day went on to win the race, resulting in a payout for Smalls. The discovery of the time capsule and its subsequent connection to a winning Derby tip attracted media attention, with Smalls and others describing the coincidence as 'spooky.' The core facts are a buried note, a matching horse name, a £20 wager, and a winning outcome.
Coverage by outlet
The Guardian
left
Angle
The Guardian frames the story as a charming human-interest tale centred on an ordinary working-class construction worker getting an unexpected windfall.
Bias
The Guardian emphasises the worker's occupational identity ('construction worker') and uses the word 'spooky' in quotes, keeping a mildly sceptical but warm tone. It includes the detail about the Christmassy name clue, which is factually relevant. The coverage is broadly accurate and does not stray significantly from the facts, though it foregrounds the human-interest angle over the specifics of the bet or the horse.
BBC News
centre-left
Angle
BBC frames this as a straightforward quirky news story, presenting the facts plainly with minimal embellishment.
Bias
The BBC's coverage is the most neutral of the group, sticking closely to verifiable facts: the age of the letter, the bet amount, and the winning outcome. It uses 'spooky' in quotes, attributing the characterisation to the participants rather than editorialising. No significant facts appear to be omitted or distorted, making this the least biased account among those covering the actual story.
The Telegraph
centre-right
Angle
The Telegraph does not cover the time capsule story at all, instead running a standard pre-race Derby tips and runners guide.
Bias
The Telegraph's article is entirely unrelated to the time capsule story, being a conventional race preview focused on horse selections and race analysis. It neither covers nor omits the time capsule narrative because it is a different article entirely. Its inclusion in this comparison is misleading, as it represents a different editorial product — a betting tips piece — rather than a news report on the same event.
GB News
right
Angle
GB News sensationalises the story by framing it in near-supernatural terms, using words like 'miraculous' and 'prophecy' to amplify the drama.
Bias
GB News deviates from neutral language most significantly by describing the win as 'miraculous' and the note as a 'prophetic tip,' language that goes well beyond what the facts support and introduces a quasi-mystical framing. This is editorially loaded compared to simply reporting a coincidental match. However, it does include the factual details of the bettor's name, the stake, and the odds, which other outlets omit, partially offsetting the sensationalism.