Aidan O’Brien, a 12-time high coach at Royal Ascot, has a document 85 winners on the huge assembly and is eyeing much more glory on the Berkshires in 2024.
Since being appointed coach on the historic Ballydoyle complicated in 1996 aged simply 26, he has damaged each worthy document and received each worthy race win in Europe and past.
Royal Ascot has at all times been the focal point for O’Brien and is a gathering the place he has loved nice success.
Certainly, final 12 months he overtook Sir Michael Stoute as essentially the most profitable coach within the assembly’s lengthy historical past, his document now standing at 85 winners. As well as, O’Brien has been topped the highest coach on the meet no fewer than 12 occasions.
Aidan sat down with attheraces.com’s Kevin Blake to debate those who may convey him extra glory at Royal Ascot in 2024.
Auguste Rodin
It’s in wonderful situation and has been ready Prince of Wales charges. We had been happy together with his efficiency within the Tattersalls Gold Cup. He hoped he would win, however the rain despatched the bottom in a path that wasn’t splendid for him. He additionally wobbled a bit when he was pushed out on the house flip, which interrupted his rhythm for just a few strides. Though he was overwhelmed, the escape was at all times going to observe him. Royal Ascot was an enormous a part of the plan with him and we could not be happier with the place he’s in the meanwhile. We would not need rain for him and would like sooner floor.
Steady
It’s deliberate that he’ll run in Hardwick Bets. We’re comfortable to ship him there unraced as we did not suppose there was an appropriate main race for him. He has been away for 2 jobs and he appears to be in fine condition. The final time we noticed him on the monitor within the Arc de Triomphe Prix he had a fantastic run. Afterwards we thought perhaps we had been driving it too quiet and that it might run higher if the experience was extra optimistic. We predict there may be extra to come back from him and hope he can get his season off to an excellent begin at Royal Ascot.
Kyprios
He hits the goal for Golden cup. He hit all of the marks we set for him this season and every little thing went very easily. He is most likely by no means going to be the sort to stretch and after what occurred in France the place he turned left after hitting the entrance, we’re by no means in a rush to get him to the entrance. Ideally, we might at all times like him to steer so long as potential. After all of the struggles he confronted final season, we’re excited to see him again within the Gold Cup.
Diego Velazquez
It is not closed but, however now it seems to be prefer it would possibly go on Hampton Courtroom Stakes on Thursday. We’re inclined to forgive him for participating within the Prix du Jockey Membership final time. He had an enormous draw and Ryan wasn’t proud of the place he ended up from there on this messy race. We predict he’ll put this run behind him and Hampton Courtroom seems to be like an excellent place for him.
Henry Longfellow
Henry Longfellow will go on St. James’s Palace charges. His final run within the Poule d’Essai des Poulains was a bit of messy. He was as soon as once more trapped in a subject throughout a sluggish race, and each time he tried to get out, somebody reduce off his head. It was a bit of uneventful, however he did not have a tough race because of this and he appears to have come out on high from it. We predict he’ll do a lot better at Royal Ascot. If it rains, he will probably be high quality.
Opera singer
We actually stay up for seeing her in Coronation charges. She had some delays earlier this 12 months and we felt we needed to run her within the Irish 1000 Guineas if she was going to get to Royal Ascot. She wasn’t away for work and we actually did not count on her to do in addition to she did on the Curragh as a result of we did not suppose she had sufficient work. The truth that she ran so properly says lots about how a lot class and skill she has. She appears to have hit residence, as we have been hoping ever since, and is one thing to stay up for.
Tiber River
The plan is to launch it within the Jersey charges. He ran very properly within the Irish 2000 Guineas and to be honest you’ll be able to’t say he hasn’t run a mile, however he does present numerous tempo and we predict the Jersey Stakes is an effective place for him. We’ll be taught extra about him there, however it’s in no way out of the query that he might be again for a mile after Jersey. We will probably be guided by what we see from him there. He is a horse we have at all times had numerous respect for and we’re wanting ahead to him.
Two-year…
A bedtime story – The plan is to run her within the Chesham charges. We had been delighted along with her efficiency at Leopardstown. We did not actually got down to try to drive any of those two-year-olds into Chesham, we simply let it occur when it occurred. She put her hand to work at Leopardstown and regarded a beautiful filly.
Camille Pissarro – The plans are to run for workplace Coventry charges. We thought it was a Coventry horse for fairly some time. He works like an excellent horse. The final time he was simply inexperienced was on Marble Mountain. Ryan felt very infantile and would step ahead once more. We’re wanting ahead to it.
celtic chief – I would say he is prone to run Windsor Citadel Stakes. He was able to run early, however he had a bit of delay that held him again. We had been delighted with what he did at Navan and it was nice to see him beat a horse in Crimson Evolution who had such an excellent run underneath his belt. It was inexperienced sufficient when it hit the entrance. He ought to sharpen up and get loads of it.
Straightforward Mover – I do not suppose she’s going to run as a result of after simply profitable on Friday it may occur fairly shortly for her. If she was going to run, this could be it Albany chargeshowever I would say it is greater than seemingly she’ll be ready for the Airlie Stud Stakes on the Curragh on the finish of the month.
fairy godmother – She’s going to go on Albany charges. She at all times labored like an excellent mare. We could not see her being overwhelmed on her debut at Naas, however when she received there to problem, she began wanting all over and was overwhelmed. So for her second begin we set out with the intention of driving her lots quieter and instructing her as a lot as potential. She accelerated very properly from off the tempo and received by a slim margin and for us she may have been rated a bit higher than naked kind. Plainly she has carried out once more, and it’s a actually great prospect.
Heaven’s Gate – We goal it at Queen Mary’s charges. It is potential that she would possibly discover this check a bit harsh for her, however we’ve to separate them up and hopefully she will be able to get away with it as she had an excellent tempo. I may see her operating over seven furlongs later within the season.
Treasure Island – He’s one for Windsor Citadel Stakes. He received at Naas final time and we predict he is received the lead. He has loads of pace and will like Ascot.
Tunbridge Wells – He’s one other who will not be a sure runner at Royal Ascot. If he goes, will probably be in Coventry charges. If he would not go, he will probably be one for the railroad charges. He jumped very properly over the road on the Curragh and appears an excellent prospect.
whistle – He’s one for Norfolk stakes. We thought he could not be overwhelmed on debut and he had a fantastic run however he bumped into what regarded an excellent horse in Cowardofthecountry. He returned untroubled for the journey within the First Flier Stakes and was spectacular there. Since then, the shape has carried out properly. His full brother Little Huge Bear was overwhelmed on debut to win the Windsor Citadel Stakes at Royal Ascot and we predict this man has a fantastic probability.