Aidan O'Brien

Nostalgia, they say, isn't quite what it used to be. In times past, it was not so much a wistful state of mind as an outright medical condition. The Union Army in the first two years of the Civil War reported precisely 2,588 cases, no fewer than 13 of which proved fatal. And I must admit to some concern that this may in fact be the version to which I am destined to succumb, nailed into the same coffin as the five-week Triple Crown. The whole premise of nostalgia is...

Coolmore and Westerberg's 575,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling and 'TDN Rising Star' Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}--Sweepstake {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) made a winning seasonal return in last month's G3 Alleged S. at the Curragh, having been on the shelf for almost a year after running seventh in last term's G1 2000 Guineas, and added to his tallies in 2021's G3 Tyros S. and G2 Futurity S. with a battling effort in Friday's G2 IRE-Incentive It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley S at Chester. Positioned in second passing the...

Aidan O'Brien's phenomenal record at Chester's May Festival speaks for itself and while there was a small bump in the road on Thursday as Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) failed to read the script, it is another of the stable's key 4-year-olds who steps forward to take up the mantle on Friday. One of the unfortunate TDN Rising Stars who was denied the opportunity to make an impact in his Classic year, Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) showed enough when beating the subsequent G2 Mooresbridge S. winner Visualisation (Ire) (No Nay...

Kenny McPeek has backed impressive Cheshire Oaks winner Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to fulfill her destiny at Epsom next month and revealed that he will be watching how the Aidan O'Brien-trained filly's career develops with interest.  It was in 2017 when the US-based trainer concocted a daring plan to take on the best middle-distance fillies in Europe with Daddys Lil Darling (Scat Daddy), the dam of the new short-priced Betfred Oaks winner Savethelastdance.  However, Daddys Lil Darling did not get the opportunity to show how good she was to the...

Since Aidan O'Brien first came to Chester in 2005, the year that the stable opened its account in the Listed Dee S. with Gypsy King (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), the May Festival has acted as a stage set for the yard's dominant actors in the middle-distance category. Thursday's edition of that 10-furlong Derby trial went their way for the 10th time as San Antonio (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})--Rain Goddess {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) manipulated the bends of the Roodee circuit with a professionalism that belied his inexperience. As tactical as it gets...

Wide-margin winners trended on a rain-softened opening to Chester's May Festival and, with testing conditions set for day two at the Roodeye, it will be as you were turning to Thursday's Listed Boodles Dee S., another G1 Derby trial, and the Tote-sponsored G3 Ormonde S. for the older stayers. Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Local Dynasty (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will relish the muddy track, according to Charlie Appleby, and returns off a soft-ground breakthrough score in October's Listed Silver Tankard at Pontefract when last seen. "He has done well over the...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Daddys Lil Darling, by Scat Daddy) shed maiden status with a game frontrunning display over 10 furlongs at Leopardstown last month and stormed to the head of ante-post betting lists for Epsom's G1 Oaks after unleashing a spectacular performance in Wednesday's Listed Weatherbys Digital Solutions Cheshire Oaks at Chester. The 8-11 favourite's only moment of worry came at the break, when hampered as the gates opened, and she was bustled along early to retain contact with the main cluster. Inching forward inside the last...

There was a strong vibe about Ballydoyle's Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Illaunmore, by Shamardal) ahead of Saturday's six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race at Naas and he did not disappoint to show distinct promise and earn TDN Rising Star status. Jumping smartly under Seamie Heffernan to race on the front end, the 5-6 favourite was kept company by the Ger Lyons-trained fellow newcomer Tourist (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) and was briefly headed inside the two. Battling against the rail, the 200,000gns Book 1 purchase who races for Coolmore, Westerberg and Brant...

Last term's undefeated G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) heads a confirmed cast of 20 after final declarations for Sunday's G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas were made Friday morning. The Dermot Weld trainee has been allocated gate 15 for the one-mile feature. She will be reopposed by Moyglare runner-up and G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never), Aidan O'Brien's lone representative, who is drawn in stall eight. Godolphin's trio of contenders includes Saeed bin Suroor trainee and 'TDN Rising...

Aidan O'Brien will rely on G1 Futurity Trophy hero Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and G1 Phoenix S. victor Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) in Saturday's G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas, with both featuring among a confirmed field of 14 for Britain's first Classic of the year. The trainer's G3 Killavullan S. winner Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) was the only absentee when final declarations were made Thursday morning. Auguste Rodin, who is set to be partnered by Ryan Moore, has been drawn on the wing in stall 12...

Maintaining the Ballydoyle momentum at The Curragh on Monday, TDN Rising Star Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Modern Eagle {Ger}, by Montjeu {Ire}) justified 5-6 favouritism with a degree of comfort in the Listed Coolmore Stud Blackbeard Irish EBF Tetrarch S. to point the way to the upcoming mile Classics. Coming off a win in the Madrid Handicap at Naas, the bay who was bred and raised at Monceaux for the Wildensteins tracked the leading pair up to a mile for the first time before being coaxed to the front by Seamie...

Four withdrawals marred The Curragh's Listed GAIN First Flier S., with the winners and likely favourites Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Noche Magica (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) among them, resulting in the bizarre circumstance of just five runners with two outings between them. In the event, it was the three newcomers who filled the frame with Ballydoyle's His Majesty (Ire) (No Nay Never--Czabo {GB}, by Sixties Icon {GB}) coming out on top to provide the stable with back-to-back renewals. Looking set to play a bit-part at best...