Legendary Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has trained a spectacular 81 Royal Ascot victories, and is closing in on Sir Michael Stoute’s record of 82 winners at the royal meeting. So, who should punters be looking out for from among the Ballydoyle batallions? Check out some of the most fancied Aidan O’Brien Royal Ascot runners.
Best Horse Racing Offers for Royal Ascot
Aidan O’Brien Royal Ascot Runners To Look Out For
O’Brien’s combination with stable jockey Ryan Moore have to be taken very seriously at these big meetings, with the duo already winning 32 races in Ireland and Britain this year alone, with more expected at the upcoming Royal Ascot meeting.
Coventry Stakes – River Tiber @ 7/4
River Tiber has to be one of the most exciting Aidan O’Brien Royal Ascot runners and could hardly have made a better impression on debut, storming home by 10 lengths at Navan. That win immediately made him favourite for the 6f Group 2 Coventry Stakes.
The slight drop down in trip for his second outing at Naas maybe wasn’t what was needed, however, but River Tiber was pushed out to eventually win by two lengths showing sheer power. This race now at Ascot could be perfect though with the stiff finish likely to suit perfectly on the straight course.
River Tiber has shown he can handle different types of ground, so whatever we’re served up on day one of the Royal Ascot festival, the son of Wootton Bassett gives O’Brien every chance, who has a great record in this race.
Whooooooosh! 🚀
River Tiber (Wootton Bassett) storms clear in the closing stages to make a most taking winning debut @NavanRacecourse under Ryan Moore.
He looks good! 🏇 pic.twitter.com/8pq8GofEVf
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 22, 2023
St James’s Palace Stakes – Paddington @ 2/1
Irish 2000 Guineas hero Paddington impressed at the Curragh as he eased to victory, and has a terrific chance of a second Group 1 in as many months.
A five-length Curragh maiden winner on his final start last year, the Siyouni colt followed-up with further success in the Madrid Handicap at Naas on reappearance in March.
Stablemates Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear headed for the UK 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. However, Paddington stayed on home soil winning a Listed contest at the Curragh, before returning to that venue and storming to victory in the Irish 2000 Guineas.
Although facing tougher competition this time around, Paddington tackles fellow joint-favourite Chaldean with Frankie Dettori in the saddle, who’ll be looking to bow out in style at the Royal Ascot festival.
Paddington flies home to win the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas
🥪 Anyone for a marmalade sandwich?#ITVRacing | @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/EOaqMJanS6
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 27, 2023
Prince Of Wales’s Stakes – Luxembourg @ 2/1
Luxembourg is set for action in a stacked Prince of Wales’s Stakes and is certainly one of the most fancied Aidan O’Brien Royal Ascot runners this year. He has no easy task, however, up against 2021 Epsom Derby winner Adayar, who is the 9/4 second-favourite.
A Camelot colt, Luxembourg won his third Group 1 race recently when staying on well and romping home in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.
This race has certainly took a change with the recent news that Desert Crown won’t be running, so there’s every chance the Ballydoyle-trained could pick up a seventh career win. A big positive is that it’s a prize O’Brien has also won four times in the past, with his most recent being Love in 2021.
What a performance! 😱
Luxembourg (11-4) returns to form with an absolute bang in a white-hot heat renewal of the @tatts_ireland Gold Cup@curraghrace 👀@Ballydoyle | @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/PnHbQqFEEI
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 28, 2023
Gold Cup – Emily Dickinson @ 6/1 & Broome @ 10/1
O’Brien has two good chances in this year’s Ascot Gold Cup, with Emily Dickinson and Broome being the shortest prices for him. Changingoftheguard is also entered for the race and is priced at 25/1.
Emily Dickinson suffered a shock defeat when turned over at odds-on at Leopardstown in the Saval Beg last month, while Dubai Gold Cup hero Brome finished third in the Yorkshire Cup most recently.
It’s a tough race for sure but, with Ryan Moore set to saddle Emily Dickinson, that could be O’Brien’s best shot in this race. His number one stable jockey has already won it the Gold Cup three times in the past, including last year aboard Kyprios .
Emily Dickinson and Broome may not be the most fancied Aidan O’Brien Royal Ascot runners, but still have the chance at glory for Ballydoyle.
Could she be Gold Cup-bound? 👀
Emily Dickinson stays on nicely under Ryan Moore to make a winning return in the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes, a race won last year by subsequent Ascot scorer Kyprios.
She’s been cut into 4/1 from 6/1 for the Gold Cup @Ascot.@Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/14Il8V6yxI
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 22, 2023
Commonwealth Cup – Little Big Bear @ 13/8
Despite disappointing and finishing last in the 2000 Guineas on his reappearance at Newmarket, Little Big Bear was one of last season’s leading and fastest two-year-olds.
He did bounce back well in his most recent outing, however, when Frankie Dettori saddled him to victory in the Group 2 Sandy Lane at Haydock. On the pick of his form, Little Big Bear has every chance in the Commonwealth Cup.
There’s been plenty of talk about this horse that is one of the Aidan O’Brien Royal Ascot runners with a huge chance of success. Sprinting looks Little Big Bear’s discipline.
With last year’s Phoenix Stakes hero well beaten at Newmarket, the return to six furlongs at Haydock certainly helped him out. The three-year-old also won the Windsor Castle Stakes at the Royal meeting last year, and can certainly deliver on tis grand stage for a second time.
He’s back!
Little Big Bear means business and is all class in the Betfred Sandy Lane Stakes for Aidan O’Brien and @FrankieDettori 🏇 @haydockraces pic.twitter.com/Qa6yhUKxIB
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 27, 2023
Coronation Stakes – Meditate @ 7/1
Meditate will take on Tahiyra for a fourth time and this time around it’s in the Coronation Stakes. The filly is yet to beat Dermot Weld’s Irish 1000 Guineas heroine.
Mediate is certainly an outside shot in this race with the heavy favourite Tahiyra, proving to be a thorn in her side. Fast ground at Royal Ascot will also suit UK 1000 Guineas winner Mawj too, so it’s a tough ask for O’Brien against these major players..
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