A O'Brien - Master of the Dark Arts

its all easy when AOB hasn't won the race bit if Moore had got up on the line would they have
a,  even looked at the start , [ no chance ]
b, diq, Moore for either of the offences they were thought to have committed [ no chance ]

will AOB now top these team tacticsin case they result in them losing a race in the stewards room ?

I was waiting for Gstaad to be declared a Non Runner.

Similar tactics are on display at every Cheltenham Festival for all to see.

Multiple runners from certain stables that get in the way of who ever needs to be got in the way of.

OK - this is a casual side issue, but it's made me think about the Shergar Cup and the Racing League. To quote Richard Russell in the RP today. "Tactics play a part in every race in Britain and Ireland, but the team tactics we witnessed when Puerto Rico manufactured a gap for Gstaad, have absolutely no part in our sport.."
So if this happened in either of those two events, say to secure points needed to win the wider competition, then sanctions would follow. In which case one has to ask, what is the point of the wider competition?
The obvious conclusion that bears repeating, every time these abhorrations come round again; Horse Racing IS NOT a team sport.
And the usual argument that it provides a bit of variety and different interest, simply falls apart.

Didn't see the race live but caught up with it after the discussion about it. It did have a whiff of the Shergar Cup type races about it and the penalties appear lenient at best. Not in any way subtle either. Disappointing and depressing in equal measure.

Think penalties are long overdue for this pre planned scenario. Also why is there no penalties for jockeys who 'get a shout' in races everyday and move out of the way to let their mate go by. What about 'best possible placing' in this scenario when a jockey has clearly compromised the 'best possible position' of his own horse?

Why do we persevere with backing GB trained horses? Yes there were three wins yesterday with Bow Echo at 5/6, a 50/1 outsider and a nice handicap for Alan King but from how many runners? The O'Briens have plenty as well but 5 winners from 9 races is extaordinary.

As far as the St James Palace is concerned, the penalties were for deliberate interference with other horses as much as opening a gap along the rail. Soumillon deliberately carried the winner and third wide as well as opening up the rail. The Shergar Cup has not led to deliberate obstruction so far as I can recall.

racings apologist booby walsh said Puerto Rico,s winning chance weren't effected ,but if it was trained by gosden and souey let the winner up the inside like that,booby would have ripped him to shreds,even a moron like chamberlian wasnt having it

It's taken the stews years to finally take action on the team tactics that have occured time and

time again. When they tried it on at the Melbourne Cup, having all 3 runners on the front stacking up

the field, they were lucky to get out of Australia alive! You can't blame them for employing these

tactics as long as the authorities turn a blind eye.

In Hong Kong or Oz, Soumi would have been banned for months not days.

As would Moore,rog.

their not bothered 2 champions jocks fined.suspended for basically trying to cheat punters, ashamed, nah just a shrug  of the shoulders , so what

I know I'm late for this. Any mention of it on tv and the journos and pundits? I hope, in the future, the BHA would throw the book at AOB and disqualify his entire team or battalion of runners. It's cheating - the most despicable in any sport. It's also unsporting.

Most have criticised the blatant tactics,Implausible

has kevin blake mentioned it today, all ive seen of him messing about with strides etc

If someone at the racecourse or winner's enclosure calls out "you're a cheat" AOB, Moore or Soumillon then this can only be a deterrent for the 3 individuals concerned. Name and shame is effective and necessary in the King Of Sport, I firmly believe.

Pointless as they would laugh at you before you were ejected.
Only the Authorities can try to stop it

Really pleased with this thread personally i would have trebled the bans at least sick of this cheating and putting horses and jockeys at risk, hate the idea of pacemakers full stop.

love pacemakers. produced 1 of the greatst races of all time Grundy V Bustino.

But,geoff,they were there to set the pace and not to deliberately hamper other rivals

What Moore did at the start was deliberate and unforgiveable for a senior jockey. It was downright offensive professionally, and clearly unsporting; Soumillon (the accomplice) received a hefty sentence than Moore.

I think the penalty dished out was extremely lenient esp on AOB, and Moore. I think it ought to be reviewed, and the perpetrators called before the Jockey Club in High Holborn.

Penalties are imposed within the Rules not what they would like to do.

When they are used as pacemakers i.e POW  truly run providing a great race with the best horses coming to the fore.

Helped to deliver Montjeu's imperious KG. My best day's racing.

Exactly.
A slightly different Minnie Hawk today though

Jun 17, 2026 -- 4:28PM, geoff m wrote:

When they are used as pacemakers i.e POW

Jun 17, 2026 -- 4:20PM, impossible123 wrote:

What Moore did at the start was deliberate and unforgiveable for a senior jockey. It was downright offensive professionally, and clearly unsporting; Soumillon (the accomplice) received a hefty sentence than Moore.I think the penalty dished out was extremely lenient esp on AOB, and Moore. I think it ought to be reviewed, and the perpetrators called before the Jockey Club in High Holborn.

My thoughts exactly, for my money, Moore's riding at the start was reckless and the more serious offence.

How can jockeys of pacemakers be considered to be doing everything within the rules to obtain the

best possible placing? Surely a jockey on a front runner who wanted the horse to run it's best would

go to the lead and then slow it down ,recover from the initial effort and then kick again?

Like our interference rules this pacemaker rule is a total nonsense!

Like the "loveable" JPM,Coolmore are largely "untouchable"

A horse ridden at the front, whether it be a pacemaker or running on its merit, its fate will be decided by its jockey. However, what happened in the St James's yesterday was neither. It was running to aid its stablemate, Gstaad,by occupying a position to facilitate Gstaad at the critical juncture in the race; he was engineering a smooth passage next to the rail for Gstaad by coming off the rail to the left.

I hope the next time this "team tactic" is deployed, causing an impede or not, the stewards must issue a heftier suspension to the same connections. Horseracing is not a team sport, and this "cheating" behaviour must be stopped for the good of the sport.

Do you take stupid tablets,Implausible?

The following is AOB's explanation of yesterday's race;

Asked if he disagreed with the suggestion team tactics were used, O'Brien said: “There’s no doubt about that. I always say when we put horses in a race, they’re in there for one thing. It’s to make sure there’s an even pace for everybody. That’s the only reason.

"Then you come out of the race and you know what trip your horse wants, and whether your horse is good enough to run against those horses or not. If it’s a muddle, you don’t know what’s going to happen and nobody knows. It’s inconclusive for everybody.”

When O'Brien was asked whether the stewards took the right action, he replied: “The stewards are the ones that make the decision. Rules are rules, the stewards have their job to do and that’s the way it is.

“I thought both horses would be very forward and I thought one could be leading. I thought Christophe might be leading because his horse won making the running twice last year in a Group 1 and that’s why Christophe was on him. I thought he would lead and I thought Ryan would be sitting second. That’s the way I read it.

“I don’t know what happened. I saw it like everyone else.”

Strangely enough I think he is talking utter cobblers

Two points, first can we have less C&P please?!

Second is this quote,


"Then you come out of the race and you know what trip your horse wants, and whether your horse is good enough to run against those horses or not. If it’s a muddle, you don’t know what’s going to happen and nobody knows. It’s inconclusive for everybody.”

If this is the case then why did he run a miler in last years Derby?

Why was Albert talked up as a Guineas horse?

It’s total bs.

So how did you view the effort by Devils advocate today? He was never intended to win the race although if he had gone a bit slower for the first 5 furlongs he might have been placed. The rest of the field ignored him.

O'Brien's statements are even less convincing than Trump's and that is saying something.

I recall Andre Fabre saying that even in a slow tempo the class horse will win.

Sosie never needed a pacemaker to win the 1m 1f DISPHAN nor did Daryz.

I don’t see how the pacemakers in the POW today helped the race or pace in any way, except the winner who like last year was held up in last off of a strong gallop as he was last year.

The first reaction to his win last year was that there was a pace collapse. 12f horses were treading water at the end of this compared to Rewilding who was held up and ran on strong.

Buick had sitting ducks in front of him to aim at.

Watch back last years Champion, see where the 1st and 2nd sat.

Calandagan and Ombudsman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptw3pqBjthw

Today he ran by already beaten horses.

NS - I've hated Coolmore for about 20 years and there is so much I could focus on with numerous examples.

Aidan does seem to be a genuinely decent guy but I can't stand listening to his incessant búllshit!
I cannot believe more pundits don't say it just as it is - he deserves mass ridicule for the shíte he spouts.

Remember the legendary speed which Galileo was supposed to have...that the July Cup was there for the taking?
Funny that...as a 2f shorter trip was the reason Fantastic Light found a couple of lengths on him from Ascot

Every season he's hailing half a dozen 'wonder horses' who'd get nosebleeds if they reached the heights of 130!
In summary...I think he's not got a clue as we saw YET AGAIN on Derby Day!

He's a very helpful gent and always polite & accommodating but despite the frequent interviews...he NEVER tells
you ANYTHING remotely useful...or truthful! We glean what we can through the betting.

He's breaking records that will likely remain for a lifetime and this may sound very churlish to many of you
but he IS NOT the genius they keep reminding us about...just in case we forgot our brainwashing!

Just how many horses have they had in now three decades which have reached the elevated heights of an official
130 rating?
Only Galileo (130) along with that ridiculous 137 for Hawk Wing...and that was due to one inexplicable, anomalous performance.
He was given an embarrassing official mark of 137 which is absolutely senseless...as it puts him higher than
Sea The Stars, Troy, Dubai Millennium & Montjeu to name a few which is ludicrous & absolutely laughable!

I do believe Aidan's LOWERED the bar...despite having a virtual monopoly of the best bloodstock to choose from.
It's a poor substitute/comparison when someone compares official ratings & class with an overall resume of G1 wins
when those performers can be a stone inferior to genuine historical champions! Don't we all love brilliance?

Cecil, Stoute, Vincent et al had numerous far superior performers despite having far fewer superbly bred candidates.

Does anyone really believe he's superior to Vincent or Henry...or many others I could name?
His very best horses CANNOT compare to Stoute's or some of the aforementioned legends.

It's ALL about rattling up the numbers of Group Ones with them...NOT quality.
I despise their conveyor belt of relentless bluebloods who never have the panache of the greats going back.
It's arguable that City Of Troy is as good as he's had but they weren't so adventurous or sporting in running away
to stud with him were they? The #myth' would've been exposed...that's why!
An improved 4yo Calandagan would've reigned supreme and improved past him- the official ratings actually say so too.

I keep stating the obvious in that Coolmore has an unstoppable conveyor belt of ammunition bred in the purple
which we've NEVER seen the likes of and sheer numbers means the rest can't compete and he can't fail - it's
like having a penalty with an open goal!
It is NOT that he's TOO smart for the rest...and that's a huge insult to Gosden, Cumani, Haggas et al. 

It's got that bad with me that even when I haven't got a bet in a race, I can't help cheering on something else
when they've been locked in a battle - it's a kick as if I'd actually won money!
Bow Echo yesterday was a prime example.

If were talking about achievements then it's an A* but for quality of horses (considering the fail-proof ammunition)
then it's probably a D- as I suspect ANY half-decent professional trainer could achieve likewise...and possibly even
squeeze out a bit more. Just imagine what Vincent, Stoute or Cecil could've achieved with the firepower Aidan's had!

Surely Ballydoyle would have wanted Gstaad sat just behind Puerto Rico.
The start was messy, with the Amo horse and Rico coming from wide looking for the rail.
Bow Echo was not the only one inconvenienced.

As for the home turn, was this any different from Richard Hills on Give The Slip, allowing Fantastic Light to slip up the rail Vs Galileo?

A lot of hot air about nothing.

Knock em bandy,nutty brandy

herbie, you posted exactly my thoughts ,super post.

Thanks EJ - it makes a refreshing change to have bonafide common sense & FACTS appreciated on here - the majority just haven't got the wisdom of some excellent posters who were on here 15 yrs ago.
I just can't understand why everyone's under his spell and nobody will speak about it (for fear of reprisals like no more interviews) but there are a few who come armed with experience & knowledge who despite not being around would definitely be in MY camp.

PS - I'd welcome retaliation from the fanboys...as the FACTS are on my side

Interviewer "What did you make of Christophe Soumillon's ride"?

AOB "Look obviously delighted, over the moon, Claude and Claudette brought him up, Chantelle looks after him at home. Delighted for the lads, Jean=Paul, Kilian, Pascal and Jacques."

The big difference between Aiden and the list of Champion trainers of the past is partly the number of horses he has to choose from for every Group 1 race. He probably had 8 that might have won the Derby if everything was in their favour (fitness, going, tactics etc.) Even the likes of Cecil and Stoute only had 1 or 2 each year and if things were not in their favour they either didn't run or didn't win.

Sage - that's what I'm saying so in a nutsác..Aidan's ALL about quantity NOT quality!
All considered, they have had very few QUALITY horses and that barometer must be quantified
on ratings, not resumés...as someone's gotta win the G1s.

I remember seeing what I figured was a improving high class prospect in Give The Slip (Ebor winner)
being purchased by Godolphin to be used as a pacemaker for Fantastic Light - I knew they'd ruin
that horse (which they duly did) as he was sacrificed - couldn't stand the fcúkers for that but
Coolmore use proven G1 winners (not prospects) in that role and we've seen it many times.

I do actually like the odd one - HIgh Chaparral was a tremendous campaigner back in the day.

I've forgotten which horse won the Epsom Derby 2026. However, I remember it was run on 6th June. And, I can remember which horse won 2000G 2026.

Looked like might be Lordan again there at one point.

Herbie, enjoyed reading that, yes when considering greatness perhaps we should apply the example we often use in football when considering Pep's greatness, stick Aiden into a struggling northern yard run on a shoestring and let him show us how great he is

I'd be happy if AOB draws a blank today. A bit of variety is preferred even in horseracing.

I think AOB's greatest skill is the fact, and even Herbie mentions it, is despite  the negatives we feel toward the operation, it is still very hard to not actually like the man as he always comes across as a "really pleasant individual" I like to think that it is not a front and how he comes across as a man is real.

Substitute his demeanour with that of what was typically Stoute's in his heyday and the feeling toward him and the operation would be even more negative than it is now.

duffy,he's a gent. Seen him go the extra mile with racegoers here at minor meetings in Ireland. Very hard not to actually like the man.

Previous posters. Coolmore are both quantity and quality.

Quantity - Yes. None a smidgeon of Frankel, Dancing Brave, Montjeu, Sea The Stars or even Golden Horn.
Quality - No

what was their last quality Epsom Derby winner? I cannot remember
What was their last quality 3-yr old ARC winner? Zilch

So many runners in the big races, why? Lacking confidence and most were riding shotguns for the principal (fav) runner.

Horse are like humans. If one only breeds with one within their offspring is very unlikely to be much better eg a superstar.

I think you have the wrong O'Brien. His son could teach his dad a few tricks. Made even more nauseating by having his PR man bigging him and his jock up every five minutes. 50/60 losers every fortnight.

I do not do horses from Joseph's stable esp shorties, period. There had been several odds-on taken a walk into the wilderness and "2nd string" backed from double digits, won or gifted the race. Tbh I very seldom back anything in Ireland.

Jumper45 - who would you nominate as 'the quality'?

There's not a single performer who you could say was worthy of sniffing the árses of the elite of the game!
AND even the second tier like Daylami, Pilsudski, Singspiel, Mtoto, Montjeu etc...are FAR superior!

There's not a single one who could break into the top 100 yet the ludicrous bélléndry I heard about in 2024
that victory for City Of Troy in the Breeders' Cup Classic would elevate him into the 'TOP THREE OF ALL TIME'
is utter LINACY - I really don't know how such góbshítes have jobs! They should be signing on...with crayons

Please don't give me that búllshít about Hawk Wing as I've already mentioned him...and if you're talking
about Galileo or City Of Troy, then get the fine-toothed comb out and you'll realise why they didn't keep
either of them around at 4yo.

It must be said that everyone draws a line through their disappointing BCC runs as at least they had the bálls
to roll the dice and give it a go...and IMMORTALITY would've rightfully awaited.

Rock. Ironically enough.

Montjeu was obviously nothing to do with AOB, not even trained in Ireland. And most definitely first tier!

Cider - I loved the horse and I remember thinking he was the best 12f horse I'd seen in 15 yrs since Dancing Brave but...
there's another step up to the absolute elite over the decades and I'd reluctantly say NO as his career petered out like
a damp squib, with three below par runs, so it's doubtful he joins those ranks of Frankel, Sea Bird, Nijinsky, Sir Ivor,
Shergar, El Gran Senor, Dubai Millennium, Troy, Sea The Stars et al.

Does Dubai Millenium really deserve to be in that list? I've never thought so myself

thank god that camelot didnt win the leger, or we be hearing that he was the greatest horse by coolmore and their fans, camelot won the worst derby imo ever as for opposition, and the gns win wasnt much better ,

Duffy - not a personal fav of mine but I'd reluctantly have to concede that he had a nigh-on perfect career.
I think I've a habit of throwing him in just to shut the Godolphin fanboys up

I would've been well behind Montjeu if that famous duel ever threatened to happen...a la Dawn Run/Buck House.

Duffy - not a personal fav of mine but I'd reluctantly have to concede that he had a nigh-on perfect career.
I think I've a habit of throwing him in just to shut the Godolphin fanboys up

I would've been well behind Montjeu if that famous duel ever threatened to happen...a la Dawn Run/Buck House.

Well said EJ - thank fcúk fro Encke!

I backed him too ante-post...got a couple of grand out of him

As you say...he's now just regarded as an average G1 winner which is exactly what he was but imagine the bullshit if
he would've prevailed? We would never have seen just how exposed he was to be as a 4yo so the LIE would've become immortal!

PS - to the pedants...I do realise that there are only the words 'vacuum & continuum' (I can think of) which have a pair of ewes
It doesn't tale too much to outwit those moderators

I done Enke too

https://x.com/i/status/2068833171345445270

Interesting stat if true that the Coolmore horses spend less time in the stalls

I’d made that point after the Prix Du Jockey Club, asked how Moore is always in last even in big fields.

Tiger you said jocks are free to compete more, that goes for the loading too.

he is the greatest trainer that has ever lived, over the jumps and the flat.

I'd disagree. Without the incessant ammunition available I think he'd be far less successful. His mob-handed strategy at big races and the type of horses Coolmore breeds are a clear testament to that.

You could argue the mob handed still have to be trained to win these big races.

At the top of the game , NH and flat..the man is the best ever....churlish to say otherwise.

of course the top trainers get given the best tools....its the way of the world....The man delivers at all levels.

Group sprint and handicap races? The bloke is ungentlemanly on the track eg mob-handed and team tactics.

He wins across the board....When he targets a big handicap, never far away.....and its not as though he is hiding the ability of his horse.

i get that folk are jealous, but the "lads" picked him for a reason.....I loved the man when he was a NH trainer....some great memories, especially a horse called Urabande winning at Aintree....Rough Quest's year.

It's just tedious if the same people keep winning in any sport. Sure, the quality can be acknowledged, but it becomes monotonous. I still recall when I was quite into tennis and Sampras winning Wimbledon every single year. The only sportsman where the domination was never boring in my time watching, was Tiger. And maybe Bolt, But athletics is infrequent viewing for most people.

No match with Sir Cecil. When Sir Cecil targeted a prestigious handicap eg The Ebor with Kneller he won. There would be only 1 runner - no team tactic necessary. His star charges would only have one target each.

AOB is a good trainer. I'd like to see him as a freelance trainer. I'd also like to see him train some handicappers.

But some posts miss the point. To arrive in his current position, Aiden had to demonstate his ability from the lower levels up to the top. Now he is the figurehead for a billion pound multinational company who can breed or buy the 10 best middle distance colts and fillies each year so that Aiden can turn as many of them as possible into Group 1 winners that end up in the Coolmore Stud ranks. They clearly don't care if some of  those Classic winning colts turn out to pretty useless as 4yos. Witness the treatment of Lambourn, now used as a pacemaker!

And Illinois, so much so that Moore remarked that AOB ran him in the wrong race at Epsom.

Herbie's post should be on the front page of the Racing Post. Great stuff, H

why was Ed and all going along with fantastic training from obrien to get Illinois to win the last at Rascot, yes he was pulled up in coronation, which imo was disgraceful by coolmore , running a leger 2ndlike a hare in that atrocious conditions at epsom, , he wasnt pulled up for tiredness , he just did his job for lambourn and jan and then stopped, and he was suppose to win that r ascot race he had stones in hand of the others .

If he had remained a NH trainer, would Mullins, be Mullins of today......really doubt it.

I liken the horseracing supremacy of AOB / Mullins to the military supremacy of the USA and China. The  availability of fire power ie horses and armaments respectively to these four entities are inextricably linked to their military supremacy.

I’m not sure how anyone can think that he’s truly a nice guy.

He puts people away time and again. He’s a snake that hides behind his

The last two derbies show you how he’s not running horses on their true merits over trips that suit.

The guys despicable.

LL - thanks bud

Delashay - I think that's a bit harsh on the guy but I DO agree that he regualarly 'puts people away' as he NEVER tells you anything but búllshít!
That is unequivocal..and he has a particular lexicon of relentless sémén he's been churning out for three decades:
Obviously he's well, shows incredible speed, got a great mind/temperament etc. and it's just so fcúkín' bóring!

One other thing I must mention to those who think some of us are too tough on Aidan...WHY has he not had more horses CAPABLE of hitting an official 130 mark?
As the cliché goes...it's not rocket science.

I see Ombudsman has been elevated to a superb personal best of 132 and in my opinion he fully deserves it as I like to see a great performance replicated
so nobody can call it a fluke as this exceptional show last week was even better than last year and I'd suspect only Frankel & Baaeed over 10f have earned
a higher figure since those superb but much underrated performers just before 2000 (Daylami, Royal Anthem, Pilsudski, Singspiel etc.) used to do it regularly.

So WHY doesn't it happen with Coolmore horses? There's certainly enough darts thrown but they ALWAYS fall short - tell me I'm wrong

I was astonished about 3/4 yrs ago to hear that the almost reticent & uncommunicative Ryan Moore had leapt on the búllshít train having clearly
been prompted by 'the lads' when he was particularly enthusiastic and endorsing the stallion prospects of either Luxembourg, Auguste Rodin or
Paddington - can't remember which one and as admirable as all three were...they're hardly 'greats' are they? Nowhere near as good as Ombudsman for
example...who looks like over C&D in mid June on faster ground could really serve it up to ANYTHING bar the elite like Frankel.

Coolmore is just a búllshít factory!

Someone please politely disagree with me and pick up that gauntlet...though I
should warn you that you're gonna lose - then do so with grace

I've had a few tonight and I'm in the mood for a ruckous

This place just isn't like it used to be

I’m sorry that you didn’t get to have the ruck that you were after last night! You wrote too much for many on here for a start bit I’m surprised that none of his fans have picked at what you’ve said.

If it seems harsh it’s not just an honest view, many others are the same so he’s not alone. We have the will they won’t they run here or they when Chelts comes around.

Not sure why they aren’t hitting the marks that you mention, I never felt that the marks were that accurate. This year yes Ombudsman looked great but it in the cold light of reality he was repeating what had happened at York.

It was a 10f horse beating 12f types in a race run exactly to suit him.

The French colt was leg less because of something more than the trip and Minnie Hauk hadn’t shown his ability to act over a shorter trip.

Delashay - you seem knowledhgeable enough to at least have a theory...and I'd suspect you'd agree that it's a bit of an eyebrow-raiser to say the least!

Interesting about Daryz...he's ran as I predicted he would but I was surprised that Minnie Hauk's found 2 lengths on him with the Arc form over
a trip probably inadequate for her (so all considered, she's acquitted herself very well) and as he's more versatile trip-wise, the obvious
conclusion is that Daryz was more inconvenienced than most by the ground, though I reckon the rest of the principals were too...including Almaqam.

Ombudsman's fully immersed in his comfort zone on faster ground over 10f (a match even for the quality 10f stars we've seen over the decades) and
he's had everything go in his favour last week, and although it was a stellar perfomance, he was entitled to do in in style so I'd be wary of him
backing it up at Sandown.

I'm also inclinded to forgive his Eclipse defeat last year by Delacroix as he looked to blow up in the last 75yds and Gosden did think that was
due to last year's Ascot exertions - I'd be cautious if pondering him following up at Sandown - maybe he's fooling Gosden into thinking he takes his
racing well, as he doesn't seem to have strung together back to back highs and could possibly need more time?

I was also a bit puzzled that FHG did not even refer to the ground for Daryz as an excuse...as he thought that maybe he was feeling the effects of
an arduous journey and just wasn't himself when stabled at the course the night before - for me, Daryz is yet to show he is NOT inconvenienced by
faster ground which I said on here HAD to be a concern.

I also said earlier in the thread beforehand, that it's a regular feature of the French horses coming to Ascot in mid-June to run 7 - 10 lbs below
their marks and there's a long rap-sheet of expensive failures...who've also ran with credit to reach the frame, but just NOT a a peak.

I don't doubt Ombudsman's brilliance as that's now three superb performances on which we can assess him but that beating by Calandagan last October is
still nags me, even though I'm a huge fan of the French gelding.

I'm not sure how bombproof last week's performance will prove to be though I strongly suspect it will be as the placed horses for me have not had
their optimal conditions (whereas Ombudsman did) and the trio who followed him home WILL surely been seen to better effect in the Autumn when we
get a bit of cut - in a nutsác...he's NOT 5.75 lengths better than Daryz!

I’m not surprised that Mini put a couple of lengths on him they’d only met the once and of the two AOB’s were far more certain to run its race of the two.

I’m not so sure the ground is always to blame for the French, it’s the timing and quality of the runners. They are always pegged as needing soft ground and it’s just not always true.

Duper used to travel his horses to Dubai, Hong Kong etc and they thrived on it.

Vazaibad should have won the Gold Cup on quick but for the strange decision that Soumi made to go between horses on a horse that liked to be wide when challenging. If they are classy enough they’ll translate their form.

”conclusion is that Daryz was more inconvenienced than most by the ground, though I reckon the rest of the principals were too...including Almaqam.”

This here is forgetting that the one yardstick that you know well and like didn’t run her race. She was beaten 4+ L by Ombudsman twice last year, at York and Ascot.
Here she was beaten 15L and shouldn’t have been inconvenienced by the going, so what really happened?

Ombudsman has shown that for whatever reason he doesn’t like Sandown like he does Ascot. I don’t buy that the race comes too close, I never heard Gosden blame that fir the defeat last year and think if he doesn’t go he’s ducking an AOB 3 year old in a small field with a likely different pace set up.

It wasn’t reported on the RP  but Graffard did question was the ground to blame but only in part. It needs to be remembered that they work on quick ground at Chantilly if it’s what they’ll face. So they aren’t going into the unknown in a race.

He was said to be watching the horses the day before coming and going. Got nervous. The travelling head lad was asked on the Opening Show by Harvey how he’d travelled, he said he travelled over better the 1st time.

At first I wondered if that was a translation mistake but it seems he was being honest that not all had gone great.

I’d also posted something looked over and that was about how the race was run, (the thing that still nags you about his defeat by Calandagan.)

It has to be remembered that he is the quicker horse, more a 10f type that can stretch to 12f. That’s why they didn’t want soft at Epsom as it’d test his stamina to the limit.

For Daryz to stand a chance he had to be held further (as Calandagan was in the champion) or even behind Ombudsman.

He was too forwards to finish off his race so was out of puff, that was the initial reading by Graffard and the way that he finished echoes that.

Here watch back the link:

Delashay • June 17, 2026 7:38 PM BST
I don’t see how the pacemakers in the POW today helped the race or pace in any way, except the winner who like last year was held up in last off of a strong gallop as he was last year.

The first reaction to his win last year was that there was a pace collapse. 12f horses were treading water at the end of this compared to Rewilding who was held up and ran on strong.

Buick had sitting ducks in front of him to aim at.


• June 17, 2026 7:44 PM BST
Watch back last years Champion, see where the 1st and 2nd sat.

Calandagan and Ombudsman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptw3pqBjthw

Today he ran by already beaten horses.

https://x.com/i/status/2069723204940132568

Very interesting, it’s what some of us have noticed, even in this years Prix Du Jockey Club.

4:17 loading last.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypg2_KGL0vY

I’ve written about this and there it is!

Just listen

Do you ever stop,Delbert?
You are an Autistic,obsessive loon

Gasstd in LAST of 20 odd runners!

I’d say that the guy should stretch his examples for the case beyond races held in Ireland

Dela - I'll respond to your posts when I'm home later but I've just read on Twaater that as isn't a great surprise to me (cos I suggested it could be a doubt) that Ombudsman will side-step The Eclipse. I've said a few times...Gosden's the flat's version of Henderson for uber-caution

https://x.com/i/status/2069862913934786577