Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot stable tour

Yertiz....

The century is edging ever closer. It won't be this year, but it won't be long arriving as Aidan O'Brien's relentless Royal Ascot gallop is showing no signs of slowing down. The winners continue to come thick and fast – 85 of them to this point, making him the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history having overtaken Sir Michael Stoute last year.

Harbour Master was his first winner in the 1997 Coventry Stakes and Age Of Kings was his most recent in the 2023 Jersey. It won't be his last – certainly not when you look at the strength of his 2024 team, which is on a par with any he has sent across the water in recent times. You have my word.

Agenda
King Edward VII Stakes (Friday)

We have a few possibles for the King Edward VII Stakes and this chap is one of them. He ran well in the Chester Vase and seems to have taken a nice jump forward from two to three.

Air Commander
Britannia Stakes (Thursday)

He won a maiden at Dundalk in the spring and ran well enough at Naas in a handicap last time. The Britannia is pencilled in for him.

Auguste Rodin
Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Wednesday)

He seems very well and we've had this race in mind for him all season. He stays a mile and a half well but ten furlongs on nice ground is perfect for him too. He seems in great order since the Curragh. The rain that day didn't help and Ryan [Moore] said he took a little wobble at one stage which knocked him off his rhythm. The better the ground, the better he will like it.

Auguste Rodin:
Auguste Rodin: ten furlongs on nice ground should be perfect
Credit: Edward Whitaker
Bedtime Story
Chesham Stakes (Saturday)

She looked a classy filly at Leopardstown and we're thinking of the Chesham for her. Wayne [Lordan] really liked her the first day and hopefully there is more to come.

Camille Pissarro
Coventry Stakes (Tuesday)

A Wootton Bassett colt we've always liked. He won lovely the first day at Navan. He went on to the Marble Hill afterwards at the Curragh and was just beaten. We were happy with him but Ryan [Moore] just felt he was still a bit babyish and that he would benefit a good bit from the experience. We hope there's plenty more to come from him.

Celtic Chieftain
Windsor Castle Stakes (Wednesday)

He won nicely at Navan on Saturday and Wayne liked him. He said he was still green when he got to the front and that he would sharpen up for the run. He's a sharp two-year-old with pace and looks likely to run in the Windsor Castle.

Chief Little Rock
King Edward VII Stakes (Friday)

He wasn't stopping at the end of the Gallinule over ten furlongs and seems to stay very well so we might step him up in trip for the King Edward VII. He took a nice step forward from his run at Epsom to the Curragh so hopefully he'll come forward again.

Content
Coronation Stakes (Friday)
We were going to go to France on Sunday for the French Oaks, but we might go to the Coronation Stakes instead. The French Guineas didn’t work out for her as she was too keen in a slowly run race. She’s been in good form since and she'll either go to Ascot or wait for the Pretty Polly. At this stage, the Coronation looks the most likely.

Continuous
Hardwicke Stakes (Saturday)

The plan all along was for his first target to be the Hardwicke and we've stuck to that plan. He's been away from home a few times and he's coming along nicely. We feel there is more to come from him this season.

Diego Velazquez
Hampton Court Stakes (Thursday)

Ryan was never happy with his position in the French Derby. He was trapped wide and it didn't go the way he had hoped. We know he's better than that and he might go for the Hampton Court, although nothing is decided for definite yet.

Everlasting
Sandringham Stakes (Friday)

She only won last Saturday at Navan so it would be a quick turnaround, but she seems to have come out of the race well so the Sandringham could be on the agenda. She's a progressive filly.

Fairy Godmother
Albany Stakes (Friday)

You'd have to be delighted with the way she won at Naas, when she quickened up like a smart filly. She's always worked like a lovely type and seems to have come forward again. The plan is the Albany.

Flight Of Fancy
Sandringham Stakes (Friday)

She was only collared close home in a handicap at the Curragh and might go for the Sandringham now.

Gallantly
King George V Stakes (Thursday)

He was nicely on top at the line at Chester and seems to stay well, so the King George V Stakes would look nice for him. He's improved with every start and hopefully will continue to do so. Chantilly and London City, who seems to stay very well, are others for that race.

Heavens Gate
Queen Mary (Wednesday)

She won over six furlongs at the Curragh last time but we're thinking of bringing her back to five for the Queen Mary. She seems to be progressing nicely.

Henry Longfellow
St James's Palace Stakes (Tuesday)

The plan all along has been for him to go to the St James's Palace after the French 2,000. Things just didn't work out for him at Longchamp and it was a bit of a mess. He's better than that and we feel he's come forward nicely since then – you should see a completely different horse at Ascot. He's been doing everything right at home and everyone is happy.

Highbury
Queen's Vase (Wednesday)

It was only a maiden he won at Leopardstown but he did it very nicely and we're strongly considering the Queen's Vase as he seems to stay very well. There are a few others who have the Queen's Vase on their radar as well: the likes of The Equator, Grosvenor Square, Gasper De Lemos and The Euphrates.

Illinois
King Edward VII Stakes (Friday)

He ran well in the Lingfield Derby Trial and the winner [Ambiente Friendly] went on to be second in the Derby. We might let him take his chance in the King Edward VII Stakes. 

Kyprios
Gold Cup (Thursday)

It's a case of so far so good. He's hit every marker for us and his two runs this season have been lovely and have set us up for the Gold Cup. Ryan was very happy with him in the Saval Beg. It's all gone very smoothly for him this season and he seems to be in the same sort of place as he was two years ago. We're looking forward to it.

Military
Commonwealth Cup (Friday)

He's had two solid enough runs over six furlongs this season so he'll probably go to the Commonwealth Cup. He'll need to step up a bit.

Old Faithful
Golden Gates Handicap (Saturday)

He's coming along nicely and has won his last two. He dug deep to win at Navan on Saturday and might turn up in the Golden Gates over the same trip. Cambridge, Autumn Winter and Psalm are others we have in mind for that race as well.

Opera Singer
Coronation Stakes (Friday)

We were absolutely over the moon with her run in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. She had a hold-up earlier in the year and was only just about ready to start back. We knew we had to run her there if we were going to Ascot and didn't expect her to run half as well as she did. She's done everything right at home since and it's all systems go for the Coronation Stakes. She's come forward nicely, as we expected she would.

Point Lonsdale
Gold Cup (Thursday)/Hardwicke Stakes (Saturday)

He was very good at Chester and we were delighted with him there. He has the option of stepping up in trip for the Gold Cup or dropping back down for the Hardwicke. We'll make a decision nearer the time.

Port Fairy
Ribblesdale Stakes (Thursday)

She ran a huge race at Chester and was only just denied. We've had the Ribblesdale in mind for her ever since and she goes there in good form. She's a nice, progressive filly.

Queenstown
Queen Alexandra (Saturday)

He looks like he stays very well, but whether he will stay the extreme distance of the Queen Alexandra is another thing. You never know until you try and he's put up two good performances in defeat against Kyprios this season.

River Tiber
Jersey Stakes (Saturday)

We've decided to go for the Jersey Stakes with him. You couldn't say he didn't stay a mile at the Curragh and he ran a lovely race, but he's always shown us he has plenty of pace and we just felt the Jersey was an easier option than the St James's Palace.

Rubies Are Red
Ribblesdale Stakes (Thursday)

They went steady early in the Oaks and she got trapped back further than ideal and never got into it. She's better than that and will probably run in the Ribblesdale.

Treasure Isle
Windsor Castle Stakes (Wednesday)

We were delighted with the way he dug deep to win at Naas the last day. He has pace and the Windsor Castle would look the right race for him.

Truly Enchanting
Albany Stakes (Friday)

She finished off her race really well to win nicely at Tipperary and she's a possible for the Albany. We'll see how she is over the next few days and make a final decision.

Turnbridge Wells
Coventry Stakes (Tuesday)

He took a nice step forward from his first start at Navan to win at the Curragh and could run in the Coventry. We'll do another piece of work with him during the week and see how he gets on in that.

Unquestionable
St James's Palace Stakes (Tuesday)

He met with a setback in the spring so we knew he'd improve plenty from his reappearance in the Irish 2,000. We were very happy with how he ran and he seems to have improved nicely for that run. He'll likely run in the St James's Palace.

Whistlejacket
Norfolk Stakes (Thursday)

He's a fast horse and had no problem dropping back to five the last day. He seemed to be in his comfort zone every step of the way there and we've had the Norfolk in mind for him ever since. He was probably beaten by a very good horse on his debut. He's doing everything we ask of him and seems to be a very nice colt.


'It could be an interesting change of tactic - this race can be won by fillies like her and it’s a massive grade drop'

Luxembourg goin to run?

It's amazing how you all still want to hear from the great one.

Unbelievable comment. Has only won 10 of the last 26 runnings of the 2000G. I think that is a winning 38% strike rate. The great Vincent only won it 4 times. You keep taking that approach. What more do you want him to do and to question the fitness of his horses for the first classic of the season is quite laughable.