Aidan O'Brien

There was an abundance of pre-race hype surrounding the Aidan O'Brien-trained debutante Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Shambolic {Ire}, by Shamardal), who was hammered down to 8-13 favouritism for Friday evening's Kildare House Hotel Irish EBF Fillies Maiden at the Curragh, and she rewarded that faith with a 'TDN Rising Star' display in the seven-furlong test. Relaxed under Ryan Moore during the preliminaries, she was professional on the lead throughout and extended her margin of superiority, keeping on powerfully under mild coaxing, inside the final quarter-mile to easily account for Dollerina...

Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will have eight peers to overcome on Sunday in his bid to become the fifth Derby winner for Aidan O'Brien to double up in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh. Among them are the Derby third White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) and fourth Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), the only runners not representing the O'Brien family with the Donnacha-trained Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Joseph-trained Up And Under (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) the others taking on a Ballydoyle...

Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is on track to bid for a Derby double at the Curragh on Sunday with Aidan O'Brien's Epsom hero heading a field of 11 forfeits for the Curragh showpiece.  If successful in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, Auguste Rodin would provide the master of Ballydoyle with his 100th European Classic success, but the colt will face stiff competition with the third and fourth home at Epsom still in the picture for the race.  O'Brien has five horses remaining in the €1.25m contest, which...

Things hadn't gone smoothly for Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor, Smith and Brant's TDN Rising Star Age Of Kings (Ire) (Kingman {GB}--Turret Rocks {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) since last summer, but it finally clicked into place for the talented Ballydoyle second-string and Wayne Lordan in Saturday's G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot. In the shadow of Ryan Moore's choice The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the 1.1million gns Book 1 graduate was nevertheless let go at a surprising 22-1 given that Aidan O'Brien had run him first time up this season...

It took its time coming this year, but the expected Royal Ascot winner for the great Galileo (Ire) aptly arrived courtesy of Ballydoyle as Warm Heart (Ire) captured Thursday's G2 Ribblesdale S. for the late legend. Stepping up to a mile-and-a-half trip that was always going to see her excel following her hard-fought win in the 10-furlong Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. at Newbury last month, the 13-2 shot was in the right spot early with Ryan Moore's unerring radar to her advantage. As the initial strong pace...

Day one done and dusted and it's hard to imagine that there will be a more impressive Group 1 winner than Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) at Royal Ascot this week.  The manner in which he swept aside the Guineas hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the St James's Palace S. was something to behold. So, too, has been the progression the colt has put in this season.  Paddington reappeared to win the prestigious Madrid Handicap at Naas off just 97 and shares something in common with fellow Aidan O'Brien-trained Group...

In the battle of the 2000 Guineas winners in Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace S., it was the Irish Classic victor Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Modern Eagle {Ger}, by Montjeu {Ire}) who proved much the best as he overwhelmed the Newmarket hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to make Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot's winningmost trainer on 83. Settled behind the leaders from his wide draw by Ryan Moore as Frankie took the Juddmonte representative to the front, the 11-5 second favourite moved to his chief rival with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and...

Significantly-supported into 11-8 favouritism for Tuesday's G2 Coventry S., TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Transcendence {Ire}, by Arcano {Ire}) justified that confidence to provide Aidan O'Brien with a landmark 10th renewal of the juvenile feature which had announced his arrival back in 1997. Successful by a cumulative margin of 12 1/2 lengths in two starts at Navan and Naas, the 480,000gns Book 1 graduate could be spotted cruising near the front of the far-side group led by Bronsan Racing's oven-ready purchase Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}). Students...

It never ceases to amaze how much debate the two-year-old races at Royal Ascot generate each year. A quick scan on racing Twitter over the past few days confirmed as much.  For all the fascinating puzzles that the royal meeting will serve up this week, including whether Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) can cope with Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the St James's Palace, what will reign supreme in the Prince Of Wales's or if any of the Australian sprinters can land a blow in the King's Stand S., it's the...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features a No Nay Never daughter of a Group 1 winner. 14.00 Navan, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 5fT PEARLS AND RUBIES (No Nay Never) is bred on the same lines as Roisin Henry's G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner Midnight Mile (Ire), being by the same sire from...

Labeled a TDN Rising Star on debut at Leopardstown in July, Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) hadn't lived up to the billing in two subsequent starts but was back in the winning groove there on Thursday in the Listed King George V Cup. Failing to make an impact when over-racing and finishing last behind Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Champions Juvenile S. in September and only sixth trying out his Derby credentials in the G3 Derby Trial again at this venue last month, the bay...

17.30 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 7f 27yT    BUTTONS (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) is the pick of Ryan Moore of the Ballydoyle trio in this always-intriguing maiden, won by the stable's September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) in recent times and in which Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was fourth behind Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in an above-average race in 2019. Out of the Listed Cheshire Oaks winner and Oaks runner-up Wonder Of Wonders (Kingmambo) and descended from Urban Sea (Miswaki), the half-sister to the G1...