Aidan O'Brien

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...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Greenland (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}--Aktoria {Fr}, by Canford Cliffs {Ire}) lined up for Monday's G3 Prix Greffulhe coming back off a third in last month's G3 Prix La Force at ParisLongchamp and dipped into deep reserves to prevail in a thrilling finish to the 10 1/2-furlong test. He had concluded a five-race juvenile campaign with a fourth in Newmarket's Sept. 24 G2 Royal Lodge S. in his penultimate start and stalked the pace in second for the most part. Readied for his challenge passing the quarter-mile marker,...

Some TDN Rising Stars are marginal calls, but Ballydoyle's River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Transcendence {Ire}, by Arcano {Ire}) entered the "no-brainer" category at Navan on Saturday with a 10-length blitz of his rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Always travelling strongly for Ryan Moore tracking the leader in the five-furlong 164 yards contest won by fellow TDN Rising Star and stablemate Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) 12 months ago, the 5-6 favourite was let loose approaching two out and devoured the uphill climb to the line...

If there were any fitness doubts about TDN Rising Star Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}--Sweepstake {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) ahead of Sunday's G3 Alleged S. at The Curragh, they were answered categorically as Ballydoyle's almost-forgotten talent worked hard to prevail and get back on track on his comeback. Set a stiff task by the race-hardened Visualisation (Ire) (No Nay Never) as that Listed Devoy S. winner took no prisoners on the front end, the 2021 G2 Futurity S.-winning full-brother to stable stalwart Broome (Ire) was kept close by Wayne Lordan...

Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt Democracy (Ire) (No Nay Never--Ruby Tuesday {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) gave the perfect audition for Royal Ascot and outwitted his four rivals to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette in Sunday's Irish Racehorse Experience At INS Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh. The even-money favourite broke on the lead before settling in a close-up third after the initial strides of this six-furlong contest. Inching forward on the bridle to launch his challenge going well at the quarter-mile marker, he was shaken up to...