MANY might say Aidan O’Brien’s greatest training performance was winning the Derby with 2000 Guineas flops Auguste Rodin and City of Troy.
But commentators might have to rethink that concept should Kyprios land a second Ascot Gold Cup for the master of Ballydoyle on Day 3 of the Royal meeting.
O’Brien knows how to win the Gold Cup. Remember Yeats? He banged in four of them between 2006 and 2009 and that’s not to mention 2011 hero Fame and Glory and 2014 victor Leading Light.
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Order of St George also took the prize in 2016. With eight victories the Irish wizard has won more renewals than any other trainer.
But 2022 Gold Cup romper Kyprios has had his issues.
After a success at Longchamp in 2022 he was off the track until September 2023 when defeated at the Curragh and then at Ascot.
This term he has won two small races – but without looking a monster. If he bounces back here then O’Brien has waved his magic wand again.
GREGORY is a great eachway bet for me.
The John & Thady Gosden runner, ridden by James Doyle, landed last year’s Queen’s Vase on good ground and ran all right at York on good to firm even though a beaten favourite.
It was eye catching and he’s sure to stay.
Day 3 starts on ITV Racing with the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes for juveniles over five furlongs.
Very boring I know but surely WHISTLEJACKET will take all the beating for O’Brien and Ryan Moore.
I like the fact he has had two runs and while beaten on debut in desperate conditions he showed what he can do at the Curragh in Listed company quickening up well
In the King George V Handicap for three-year-olds over a mile and a half my guess is that PONITOS will be hard to kick out the frame after he stayed on strongly behind the talented King’s Gambit at Newbury last time in a race in which Chantilly was third and Persica fourth.
My selection still looked as though he was learning on the job that day and might improve a bundle for David Egan and Ralph Beckett.
The Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes is for three-year-old fillies over a mile and a half.
My gut feeling is that we didn’t see the real FOREST FAIRY in the Oaks at Epsom and she might bounce back to her Chester form here from Rossa Ryan and Ralph Beckett.
A few of these are questionable on the ground but Forest Fairy won the Cheshire Oaks on good and should get away with it. She’s clearly quite good and stays well.
Back to handicap company for the Britannia Stakes for three-year-olds over a mile. Wow this is wide open.
I loved VOLTERRA when he won at Newmarket last time and the fact he was well backed suggested the team thought he was well handicapped.
He’s up 9lb but has loads of room for improvement after just four races. Neil Callan rides for Kevin Ryan off a decent racing weight.
The Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes is for three-year-olds over a mile and a quarter.
King’s Gambit will be all the rage after his romp at Newbury and he could be a snip.
That said, I see no reason why French raider FIRST LOOK won’t run huge for Andre Fabre and James Doyle.
Finally, it’s the Buckingham Palace Stakes over seven furlongs.
GORAK was far from disgraced at this meeting last year off a high rating when 12th in this race rated 105.
He’s now down to 96 and has run really well in two big handicap this season at Newmarket when second to Carrytheone and fourth to Poet Master. An eachway poke.
Good luck… I think we’re going to need it!
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