Christmas came early for Irish training maestro Aidan O’Brien when he celebrated winning his 50th British Classic with 7/1 shot Christmas Day in the Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs racecourse on Saturday (6 June).

Ridden by Ronan Whelan, the son of Camelot cruised to a commanding two-and-three-quarter-length victory over the William Haggas-trained Maltese Cross (Tom Marquand) to land the 247th running of the Epsom contest, worth £1m to the winner.

This historic Derby success came the day after Aidan’s son Joseph O’Brien saddled filly Thundering On to win the Betfred Oaks.

A 12th Epsom Derby success

“Christmas Day has done nothing but improve,” said Aidan O’Brien of his 12th Epsom Derby victor. “He’s so genuine, he stays and he handles the soft ground. Ronan gave him a beautiful ride. He’s a tough, hardy horse. This is unbelievable. But this is not just me – I’m just a small part of a very big team.”

Winning jockey Ronan Whelan, 33, in only his second season riding for the mighty Ballydoyle operation, described his first Derby success as “just so easy!”

“Aidan told me to keep it simple and the horse has done it easily – he loves the ground and it just felt effortless,” said Whelan, carrying the silks of Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Westerberg and Brant. “Running down the hill, Christmas Day had loads left – I wish I was as cool a customer as the horse because he took it all in his stride. He’s a credit to everyone who has had anything to do with him.”

Derby favourite declared a non-runner: “He was standing on three legs”

But this year’s Betfred Derby was action-packed from the start. Race favourite Benvenuto Cellini appeared to stumble out of the starting stalls, going on to complete the course but trailing home in ninth. It was then revealed that the Aidan O’Brien chestnut colt had ended up with a hind leg resting on the running board when the gates opened and a stewards’ enquiry involving Benvenuto Cellini’s jockey Ryan Moore was called. It was deemed that Benvenuto Cellini’s race had “been negatively affected” and on that basis he was declared a non-runner.

“Soon after the horse left the starting gate, we were notified that the favourite had his left hind leg on the running board just before the start, which resulted in him not being able to jump out on terms with the rest of the field,” said Shaun Parker, head of stewarding at the BHA.

“He was standing on three legs when the stalls opened.”

Further success for the O’Briens in Betfred Oaks

Aidan O’Brien’s son Joseph saddled the third horse home in the Derby, James J Braddock, just 24 hours after watching Frankel daughter Thundering On (Dylan Browne McMonagle) come home in front in the fillies’ Classic, the Betfred Oaks.

“Winning a big race like this is a dream and it’s special to share it with everyone,” said the winning trainer Joseph O’Brien, who also rode Derby winner Christmas Day’s sire Camelot to win the Epsom Classic for his father in 2012.

“Thundering On was a very impressive winner. To come to any Classic with a horse that has a legitimate chance is incredible.”

You can read the full report with exclusive insight from the Betfred Festival at Epsom in next week’s Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday 11 June.

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The Epsom Classic, the Betfred Derby, is one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar. If you’re thinking of having a bet on one of the 14 runners lining up for the one-mile four-furlong contest, we’ve sought out some Epsom Derby tips from the racing experts.

Irish training maestro Aidan O’Brien has saddled a record 11 Derby winners and he sends four runners for this year’s £2,000,000 race, including ante-post favourite Benvenuto Cellini, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

The Andrew Balding-trained colt Item, who will be ridden by Colin Keane, is the shortest priced English runner and one of five sons of the legendary Frankel running in the world famous Epsom horse race.

To help you decide which of the 14 horses and jockeys might come home first in this year’s Betfred Derby at Epsom, which takes place on Saturday 6 June at 4pm, here are some Epsom Derby tips picked out by the racing experts.

Good luck!

Epsom Derby tips

James J Braddock

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien | Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle

My pick as H&H racing editor is relative underdog James J Braddock. It’s hard to look past the Aidan O’Brien runners in the Derby, but I’ve gone instead for a colt trained by his son Joseph O’Brien, who has twice ridden but not yet trained a Derby winner. James J Braddock is co-owned by ITV Racing pundit Kevin Blake and named after the American heavyweight boxing champion. This son of Zarak won a competitive Derby trial at Leopardstown – beating fancied Ballydoyle runner Pierre Bonnard in the process. He also won on heavy ground as a two-year-old, so won’t be inconvenienced by the projected softer ground at Epsom on Saturday. Could James J Braddock deliver a knockout blow and win the iconic race? He could well punch his way into the placings at least.

Ancient Egypt

Trainer: Charlie Johnston | Jockey: David Egan

ITV Racing commentator Richard Hoiles will be calling home the Betfred Derby winner during its coverage starting at 1pm on Saturday, but he’ll be keeping his eye on one runner in particular.

“Ancient Egypt may well be able to outrun his odds,” says Richard. “Connections took this big imposing horse to Epsom on the gallops morning to get him accustomed to the track and despite his size he looks a well balanced horse as he showed when galloping on strongly at Newmarket last time. A son of the great Frankel, he cost over £1m as a yearling but it still could be money well spent.”

Benvenuto Cellini

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien | Jockey: Ryan Moore

Racing journalist Frank Keogh says: “I think we saw something special when Benvenuto Cellini powered to victory in the Chester Vase. Even the taciturn jockey Ryan Moore was laughing afterwards. I expect big “Ben” to give Aidan O’Brien a 12th Derby win. James J Braddock can go well for Aidan’s astute son Joseph and take an each-way chance (particularly if you find a bookmaker offering four places) on 150/1 shot Balzac. He was placed in two Derby trials.”

ITV Racing presenter Ed Chamberlin agrees: “Basically, I think Aidan O’Brien will win the Derby with his best three-year-old and you can gauge which one they think is the best as to the one Ryan Moore picks – Benvenuto Cellini – so let that be your guide. As an outsider, I like Ancient Egypt!”

Maltese Cross

Trainer: William Haggas | Jockey: Tom Marquand

H&H racing reporter Lucy Elder says: “The Coolmore behemoth is rightly dazzling, but blink through the glare and other sparks emerge among this year’s field. Maltese Cross, owned by film producer George Waud (of Snakes On A Plane fame), sailed through Lingfield’s Derby trial last month (9 May) and showed real guts in that close-fought finish with Bay Of Brilliance. The Sea Of Stars son is a beautiful mover and I love the way he’s been so game in the closing stages of his races. Being drawn in stall one isn’t ideal, but proved no obstacle to Adayar (2021) nor City Of Troy (2024) – the most recent of the four horses to win from that draw since stalls were introduced in 1967. Jockey Tom Marquand has been on board for his last three stars, all victorious. This year marks the 30th anniversary of trainer William Haggas’s sole Derby winner, Shaamit (1996) and Maltese Cross could well be the horse to flip the script on the Coolmore narrative that has dominated the Derby in recent years.”

Epsom Derby coverage

So there are your Epsom Derby tips all wrapped up! The Betfred Derby Festival takes place at Epsom Downs from 5-6 June and you can watch it live on ITV Racing. Horse & Hound will be bringing you all the latest news during the two-day meeting, as well as online coverage with a special report featuring in the magazine dated 11 June. Enjoy!

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The final field of Derby entries has been decided after the last deadline for declarations passed on the morning of Wednesday 3 June. The finishing touches are now being made for 14 runners and riders announced for the 2026 Epsom Classic. The Betfred Derby takes place at 4pm on Saturday 6 June on Epsom Downs racecourse and an A-list crop of three-year-old colts are set to line up for this year’s race.

So who will be bidding for glory and a slice of history in the £2,000,000 contest?

Here is your full run down of this year’s Epsom Derby entries.

Derby entries: who is trying to win the £1m first prize?

After the final scratching deadline of 3 June, a total of 14 Derby horses remain for the 247th running of the world-famous 1m 4f race. Irish training maestro Aidan O’Brien saddles four of the contenders, including the race favourite Benvenuto Cellini, and a further runner is trained by his son Joseph O’Brien.

But there’s also an intriguing English contingent lining up to contest this country’s richest and most prestigious horse race.

So who will follow in the hallowed footsteps of the likes of City Of Troy, Sea The Stars, Galileo and Mill Reef to take the Epsom crown? Which jockeys are riding which horses in this year’s race?

Here is the complete list of 2026 Epsom Derby runners and riders.

Epsom Derby runners

• Action (Trainer: Aidan O’Brien)
• Alderman (Richard Hannon / jockey: Pat Dobbs)
• Ancient Egypt (Charlie Johnston / David Egan)
• A Taste Of Glory (Andrew Balding / Jamie Spencer)
• Balzac (Jane Chapple-Hyam / Silvestre de Sousa)
• Bay Of Brilliance (Ralph Beckett / Hector Couch)
• Benvenuto Cellini (Aidan O’Brien)
• Christmas Day (Aidan O’Brien)
• Item (Aidan O’Brien / Colin Keane)
• James J Braddock (Joseph O’Brien / Dylan Browne McMonagle)
• Maltese Cross (William Haggas / Tom Marquand)
• Pierre Bonnard (Aidan O’Brien)
• Poker (Kieran Burke / Rowan Scott)
• Rebel Rocker (Faye Bramley / Rob Hornby)

The following horses were scratched from the race on Wednesday 3 June and will not take part: Amadeus Mozart (Aidan O’Brien), Causeway (Aidan O’Brien), Endorsement (Aidan O’Brien), Hawk Mountain (Aidan O’Brien), Constitution River (Aidan O’Brien), Proposition (Aidan O’Brien), Saxon Street (John and Thady Gosden), Shosholoza (Joseph O’Brien).

The Betfred Derby Festival takes place at Epsom Downs from 5-6 June. Horse & Hound will be bringing you all the latest news and tips in the run-up to the meeting, as well as online coverage with a special report featuring in the magazine on sale 11 June.

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Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien completed a triumphant Oaks-Derby double at Epsom on Saturday (7 June) when winning colt Lambourn produced an extraordinary front-running performance.

Jockey Wayne Lordan was praised for the “perfect” ride he gave the three-year-old son of Australia, leading from start to finish to land the 246th running of the Betfred Derby in the colours of Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

“This is a very special race to win,” said Lordan, winning his first Derby at his ninth attempt. “I knew we’d gone a good gallop, but Lambourn’s ears were pricked so I knew he had plenty left.

“This is one of the greatest races, I’m in a lucky position to get to ride a horse like this.”

Aidan O’Brien, who saddled Minnie Hauk to win the Betfred Oaks at Epsom yesterday and completed a hat-trick of Group One successes during the two-day Betfred Derby Festival when Jan Brueghel landed the Betfred Coronation Cup, was posting a record-extending 11th success in the Betfred Derby. Lambourn, a son of Australia and a grandson of Galileo, both of whom O’Brien also trained to win the Epsom Classic, was O’Brien’s third successive victory since 2023.

“Wayne gave him an incredible ride. He’s very straightforward, Wayne knew he was going to stay,” said the Ballydoyle handler. “I couldn’t be happier.

“It’s incredible for everybody. Wayne got the fractions 100% perfect. It’s been an incredible weekend. For us, it’s such a privilege but the lads put in all the hard work. This is unbelievable.”

Betfred Derby at Epsom: results

Lambourn and Wayne Lordan came home three and three-quarter lengths clear of their nearest challenger after a relentless gallop that left their rivals toiling in their wake in the one and a half mile race. The runner-up was the Charlie Johnston-trained 50/1 shot Lazy Griff (Christophe Soumillon) with Aidan’s son Joseph O’Brien training the third-placed Tennessee Stud, a 28/1 chance for jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Another big outsider, fourth-placed New Ground at 50/1 beat Stanhope Gardens (Hector Crouch) with the Godolphin runner Tornado Alert in sixth.

Epsom Derby favourite Delacroix – the apparent Ballydoyle top string and the choice of jockey Ryan Moore for the Epsom Classic – never got into contention, finishing ninth of the 18 runners.

You can read the full report from the Betfred Derby Festival in this week’s Horse & Hound, in the shops Thursday 12 June.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Multiple Group One-winning racehorse Kyprios has been retired. The decision was made owing to an aggravation of an old ringbone lesion, which he picked up winning the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown for a third time this month.

The seven-year-old won 17 of his 21 starts, including two Gold Cups at Royal Ascot, in 2022 and 2024, becoming the third horse in history to regain victory in this race. The 2024 victory was all the more impressive given that Kyprios, trained by Aidan O’Brien and owned by Moyglare, Magnier, Tabor, Smith and Westerberg, suffered an almost career-ending injury early in 2023 in the form of a serious fetlock joint infection.

“He was a great horse. The class he had and his stamina,” said Mr O’Brien. “He had to be incredibly sound to come back from what he did. I don’t think any other horse would have come back from where he came back from.

“Obviously, we had to be ultra-respectful of him. Always. When he was a little bit sore after his run at Leopardstown, we were never going to take any risks with him. Everybody felt the same way.”

Kyprios won eight of his nine Group One starts and has won his last nine races, winning £2,690,414 during his career, which started in September 2020.

Mr O’Brien picked out the Prix du Cadran of 2022, which Kyprios won by 20 lengths despite hanging violently to his left inside the final furlong, as one of his highlights.

“He won by a long way. He was just galloping home really,” said Mr O’Brien. “He’d been round once, he could see where he needed to go and he just wanted to get back. He was just always in second gear most of the time.

“That was just unusual, that Prix du Cadran, they all fell away, nothing could go with him and he got left in front and got a bit lonely.

“He’s been the most incredible horse, he had an incredible mind to go with his incredible ability.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Six-time Group One winner Auguste Rodin is set to retire to stud at Coolmore’s Irish base upon completing his planned final race in the Japan Cup in November.

The four-year-old, owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Westerberg, has been trained by Aidan O’Brien throughout his illustrious career.

He won the Group One Futurity Trophy at Doncaster as a two-year-old, then went on to scoop four Group Ones in the form of The Derby at Epsom, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf during a remarkable year as a three-year-old. This year, he added the Group One Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot to his CV and has amassed almost £5m in prize money.

“Auguste Rodin is an exceptional racehorse and stallion prospect with the blend of class, speed and pedigree that only the best possess. He is a very special horse for us, and I truly believe he ranks up there with the best middle-distance racehorses and sires that we have stood here before him like Sadler’s Wells, Galileo, Montjeu, Caerleon and Camelot,” said Coolmore’s MV Magnier. “Physically he fills the eye so well as he has extra quality and movement so I can’t wait to see his first crop in Ballydoyle in 2028.”

Auguste Rodin, who is by 11-time champion sire Deep Impact, is the first foal out of triple Group One winner Rhododendron, who is by Galileo and a full sister to seven-time Group One winner Magical.

“He connects two of the most powerful breeding lines in the world,” said Aidan O’Brien. “He has been a pleasure and a privilege to train. He is just a very unique horse and we’re very excited to see what he will achieve at stud. We will be supporting him with our own mares.”

Jockey Ryan Moore, who rode Auguste Rodin in all but one of his 15 starts, said: “He’s been an unbelievable horse for us. We have always thought the world of him. He has everything you’d want. He has so much pace. Horses like him are so hard to find.”

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Kyprios just did enough to beat Trawlerman in a pulsating finish to regain the prestigious Group One Gold Cup at Royal Ascot today (20 June) under Ryan Moore. This was a remarkable achievement given that Kyprios suffered an almost career-ending injury early in 2023 in the form of a serious fetlock joint infection.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien and owned by Moyglare, Magnier, Tabor, Smith and Westerberg, the six-year-old, who was sent off as 11/10 favourite, finished a length in front of the Godolphin-owned and John and Thady Gosden-trained Trawlerman.

“It was smooth early on, and when Caius Chorister ran off with Benoit [de la Sayette], I ended up having to go round her and he was going too well too early,” explained Ryan, who was notching up his fourth victory in this race. “He was more value than the winning distance. We didn’t get it quite right but he still won.

“Aidan knows exactly what is required to win this race and how to get his horses ready. I’m lucky to ride a horse like this and it’s great he can come back and do it again.”

In winning the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, Kyprios became the third horse in history to regain victory in this race – Anticipation won it in 1816 and 1819 and Kayf Tara reclaimed it in 2000 having won in 1998.

Kyprios won each of his six starts in 2022, including this Ascot showpiece, the Goodwood Cup, Irish St Leger and a tremendous 20-length success in the Prix du Cadran, but his injury put paid to him defending his title in this race in 2023.

It marked a record-extending ninth success for O’Brien in this race and his 401st Group and Grade One victory.

“There were so many people involved in bringing him back following his injury,” said O’Brien. “His owners have shown great patience with him, he had two lovely runs when he was back last year and did well over the winter.

“He’s a beautiful horse and Ryan was masterful with how he rode him. He had to judge exactly when to go on him, which is not an easy thing to do.

“I’d say it’s millions to one,” said Aidan on the odds of horses returning to work following the type of infection Kyprios incurred. “It was really impossible to come back from what he came back from. At one stage we weren’t sure he would live.”

O’Brien added: “He got an infection in his joint, and it got into the joint capsule. Usually what happens is that they lose the movement in the joint – and for a while he did – but it came back.

“At one stage, it didn’t look like he was going to live. Then it was getting him to stand, and then to walk, then to trot, then teaching him how to canter again, because he had to move all his body in different ways again. It was incredible, it’s unbelievable really. He always had the most incredible mind, that was always his power probably, was his mind.

He added: “It was really like someone having the most horrific injury, as a human being, and winning the Olympics to get back to move and to walk.

“It shouldn’t have happened, to come back like that, but it happened. I thought at every stage was never going to happen. When there’s that many people working together in that kind of a special way, anything was possible. Nobody was for themselves. Everyone was for him. Nobody was trying to take credit for anything. Everyone was passing it on and working it out with each other.”

Sweet William stayed on well to finish third ahead of the Willie Mullins-trained Vauban, with Coltrane claiming fifth.

Don’t miss the full report from Royal Ascot 2024 in the 27 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine. 

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After weeks of speculation and debate, megastar colt City Of Troy silenced all his doubters with a commanding victory in the 2024 Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday (1 June). The colt provided trainer Aidan O’Brien with the opportunity to claim a record-extending 10th triumph within his impressive Epsom Derby results.

Despite the son of Justify’s puzzling below-par performance in last month’s 2000 Guineas, the Ballydoyle handler had proclaimed before Epsom, “I’m not sure we’ve ever sent a horse with as much ability for this race”. In the immediate aftermath of City Of Troy’s exhilarating two-and-three-quarter-length Derby victory, O’Brien underlined that he was, without doubt, “the best Derby winner we’ve ever had”.

Jockey Ryan Moore, celebrating his fourth success in the Derby at Epsom, described the colt as green but “sensational”.

“He was going to win very easily – he quickened well and you’d have to be delighted with what he’s done today,” said Moore, who finished a disappointing sixth to Ezeliya on the Aidan O’Brien-trained favourite Ylang Ylang in Friday’s Betfred Oaks. “It was hard to know what would happen today, but he was brilliant.”

Epsom Derby results 2024: first and third for Ballydoyle

During the early stages of the 1m 4f Derby, Moore was happy to drop City Of Troy towards the rear of the 16-runner pack and let him lob away in his typically relaxed manner. As the field accelerated round Tattenham Corner, a tempting gap opened up and the bay colt burst through with breathtaking speed, letting the loose horse Voyage – who stumbled and unshipped his rider coming out of the starting stalls – guide him home for possibly one of the greatest Derby successes we’ve ever seen.

“So many people have put their heart and soul into City Of Troy and Ryan gave him an incredible ride,” said Aidan O’Brien of the colt who runs in the silks of Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. “We knew that the 2000 Guineas went totally wrong. I made mistakes training him and that’s the bottom line.

“But the cruise he has and the ability he has – it’s very exciting for everybody.”

The Gredley family celebrated a second-place finish with their James Fanshawe-trained Ambiente Friendly, ridden by Robert Havlin. Showjumper Tim Gredley was set to return to a rain-soaked five-star show at St Gallen after the historic Epsom race to contest Sunday’s grand prix.

Ballydoyle’s second runner Los Angeles finished third under Wayne Lordan.

• You can read the full report from the Derby meeting at Epsom in this week’s Horse & Hound, in the shops Thursday 6 June

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The favourite for this year’s Derby at Epsom, City Of Troy, is one of the most talked about racehorses right now.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained megastar colt was unbeaten as a two-year-old, being crowned champion juvenile and drawing comparisons with the mighty Frankel. However his highly anticipated seasonal return in the recent 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, resulted in an unexpected defeat.

Had the colt not trained on into his three-year-old year, as sometimes happens? Had the atrocious winter weather affected his pre-season preparations? Or would he follow in his stablemate Auguste Rodin’s footsteps and bounce back from a below par Guineas run and win the Derby?

In the aftermath of Newmarket, the Ballydoyle team went into overdrive behind the scenes, analysing and assessing. They have since come out extremely bullish about his chances at Epsom on Saturday 1 June and he has returned to the top of the betting market as favourite for this historic race.

“I’m not sure we’ve ever sent a horse to the Derby with as much ability as City Of Troy,” said Aidan when H&H spent the day with the team at Ballydoyle recently.

“He’s very good natured – unusually good for a colt. He has lots of scope underneath him, he’s very balanced and nimble, and he has an unbelievable mind – there’s a lot of [damsire] Galileo in him – and he gallops with his head very low and out, with a very long stride for not a very big horse,” says Aidan illustrating his “chinning” technique to measure his horses (pictured, below).

“I know that my chin represents 15.3hh and if I put mine against City Of Troy, he’s nearly 16.1hh. That’s my measuring stick.

“When you stand in to City Of Troy he’s big, but he’s not a big bulky sprinter, and he’s very balanced, he has a long stride and he’s a very nimble horse, whereas a lot of the those big strong bulky milers get lost round Epsom.”

City Of Troy: “He’s so chilled out – very friendly and kind”

The colt is ridden out every day by Ballydoyle work rider Dean Gallagher, while David Hickey looks after him. In 27 years working at Ballydoyle, David has looked after a star-studded cast including Camelot, Australia, Starspangledbanner and St Nicholas Abbey. David describes Troy as “such a gentleman”.

“He’s so chilled out – very friendly and kind, and he’s always looking out his door,” he says. “Things didn’t go right for him in the Guineas, but I think you’ll see the real City Of Troy the next time.”

Reflecting on the 2000 Guineas in which City Of Troy and Ryan Moore finished ninth behind victor Notable Speech, Aidan says a host of circumstances went against them.

“He went into the stalls last, but the way it worked we might have been better going in earlier because he was revved up and the minute he went in, he spooked, he reared and as soon as he hit the ground again they were off and running,” says Aidan.

“Usually when something like that happens, the heart rate goes up to between 120 and 150 beats per minute, so he started the race very high when it should have been way lower. Horses go into the red zone when they go over 200 beats per minute and City Of Troy probably got there before halfway in the race, so it was impossible for him to keep going.

“We just accepted that sometimes things don’t work but really it’s my responsibility to try to make sure it does. We did our homework but we hadn’t done it properly – that’s where we’re looking at the Guineas.”

“The Derby is the race I look forward to most each year”

“I felt a huge weight of expectancy in the Guineas – I felt everybody was there to see City Of Troy,” says Aidan. “I probably expected too much of him and hadn’t done my preparation properly.

“It’s our job to prepare him to go to the races for Ryan Moore to sit on, and when Ryan sits on him he has to be in the right frame of mind, he has to have all the things done and ready. I felt we let him down. Now Ryan would never say it, he never blames anybody but himself, but that’s what I would have felt. It was just a complete let down for everybody because we were all expecting it. But it all went against us and we have to accept that and try to get back to where we want to go.

“The plan was always to start with the Guineas and go to the Derby, then go wherever after that, and we decided to stay with that plan – he’s done nothing since to make us change the plan.

“The lads here are unbelievable and they take disappointment like that on the chin,” he adds. “We’ve been doing this for 30 years now. You have to believe and everyone has to know what we’re really thinking and what we’re dreaming.

“So right now, we’re back dreaming again, we’re making a new start on City Of Troy’s programme. It will make the next race very interesting anyway. The Guineas wasn’t meant to be. What we would have learnt in the Guineas will help us to prepare properly for the Derby, hopefully.”

Starting with Galileo in 2001, Aidan has landed the Epsom Classic a record nine times.

“The Derby is the race I look forward to most each year,” he says. “It’s everyone’s dream, whether their horse costs €2m or €20,000, anything is possible, and we’re certainly back dreaming again.”

You can read all about H&H’s visit to Ballydoyle, with insight on everything from a horse’s will to win to the importance of sleep in Horse & Hound magazine (30 May issue). 

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Remarkable comeback results in trainer notching a record-breaking Derby victory

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Trainer Aidan O’Brien notched up a record-breaking ninth Epsom Derby victory when Auguste Rodin won the Betfred-sponsored race earlier this afternoon (3 June) under Ryan Moore.

Auguste Rodin, who is owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs J Magnier and Westerberg, stayed on well over the 1m4f trip, winning by half a length and was always doing enough.

“We had a smooth run. I landed in a nice spot and was always confident I had William [Buick] and Frankie [Dettori] covered,” explained Ryan of his ride. “In the end, it turned into a bit of a dash, but he responded gamely in the last furlong.”

What is remarkable about this result is that Auguste Rodin disappointed on his last appearance, finishing a dwindling 12th when sent off favourite for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket at the beginning of May.

“Aidan is the only man that could get a horse back from a bad run in the Guineas,” said Ryan, for whom this was a 15th British Classic victory. “This horse has a great pedigree and has always shown promise – we’ve always had a lot of belief in him.”

As is always the case, Aidan was quick to thank his team at home.

“This result is a great credit to everyone and there are so many people to thank. Auguste Rodin is a home-bred horse and he is totally unique being by Deep Impact and out of one of the greatest mares [Rhododendron], who was by Galileo,” said Aidan of his Epsom Derby result. “Everything fell against him in the Guineas but he came out of the race great. Then every day at home he was getting better and more confident. Ryan gave him a peach of a ride today.”

Aidan explained that Ryan said Auguste Rodin was special in February 2022.

“When Ryan rode him in work for the first time as a two-year-old last February, he said that this horse was special and his movement is incredible.”

66/1 shot King Of Steel gave a very impressive performance to finish second under Derby first-timer Kevin Stott, for trainer Roger Varian and owner Amo Racing Limited. This Epsom Derby result for King Of Steel, who is by Wootton Bassett, is worth noting given that he had only run twice prior to the Derby and had clocked £3,240, but he has now added £335,819.24 to that with this performance.

“That was a huge run and fair play to the trainer,” said Kevin. “I think maybe I was in front a bit too long but we were beaten by a very good horse.”

White Birch was third at 12/1 under Colin Keane, for trainer John James Murphy and owner Mrs C C Regalado-Gonzalez.

Frankie Dettori, who won the Oaks yesterday, was sent off favourite in the Derby with Arrest, but they finished in eventual 10th.

“The track was too much for him and he couldn’t run down the hill,” explained Frankie of Arrest’s performance. “His chances were over a long way out.”

Epsom Derby 2023 result: winner’s breeding

Auguste Rodin is out of the Galileo mare Rhododendron and by Deep Impact.

Deep Impact was a champion Japanese racehorse, who won the Japanese Triple Crown in 2005 and the Japan Cup in 2006, as well as three other Japanese Grade One races. Auguste Rodin is one of just six foals from Deep Impact’s final crop prior to his death aged 17 in 2019.

Rhododendron is one of the most successful mares by Galileo. She clocked over £1.36m in prize money during her career. As a two-year-old in 2016 she was rated the joint-best filly of her generation trained in Europe, inferior only to the American filly Lady Aurelia. After finishing second on her racecourse debut she won a maiden race at Goodwood and then recorded her first important success when taking the Group Two Debutante Stakes at the Curragh in August. In October, she won the Fillies’ Mile and as a three-year-old she finished second in both the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks before winning the Prix de l’Opéra. As a four-year-old in 2018 she added another major win in the Lockinge Stakes. Her owners decided to send her to Japan to be covered by Deep Impact following her retirement from the track.

Read the full report from the Derby meeting in the 8 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

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‘It’s mental’: Frankie Dettori bags final Oaks victory at Epsom in his last year in the saddle

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Superstar Flat racehorse Snowfall has been put down after she sustained an injury in her stable at home in Ballydoyle, Ireland.

The four-year-old filly clocked up a remarkable three Oaks victories during her career, earning her connections £885,696 in prize money. She was owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor and most memorably won the 2021 Epsom Oaks by 16 lengths under Frankie Dettori, which was a record-breaking winning margin.

Her trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “We are very sorry to report that our wonderful filly Snowfall sustained a serious injury a few weeks ago. Despite the best care and attention from our veterinary team and from our team in here in Ballydoyle her condition seriously deteriorated a couple of days ago and we were left with no choice but to take the heartbreaking decision to have her put to sleep.

“She damaged her pelvis. She was fed at lunchtime by one of the lads and when he went back to her an hour later she was lame in the box. Our vet John Halley thinks that she did the splits in the box and injured her pelvis, but obviously we don’t know exactly how it happened.

“We did everything we could for her but it wasn’t to be. She is a massive loss to everyone here, from a racing and breeding perspective – she was such a high-class mare.”

Snowfall went on to win the Curragh and York Oaks equivalents and she finished sixth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe before running her final race when third in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot in October.

Racehorse Snowfall was bred in the purple; by Deep Impact, out of a Galileo mare called Best In The World, who is a sister of Found. Found clocked over £5m in prize money for the same connections as Snowball, including winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2016, plus the 2015 Breeders’ Cup.

You might also be interested in:

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Find out how this Classic race unfolded this afternoon (4 June)

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This afternoon (Saturday 17 July), we will be treated to more Group One Flat racing action when the Juddmonte Irish Oaks gets underway at the Curragh in Ireland. Here’s the full list of runners and riders who will be lining up in this historic race to help you select your Irish Oaks betting. Who is your pick to win? Snowfall (pictured), who won the Epsom Oaks by a record-breaking margin of 16 lengths, is the hot favourite…

Irish Oaks betting

Horse: Snowfall | Jockey: Ryan Moore | Place bet: 1/4

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien

She is the big odds on favourite and if performing anything like she did at Epsom, she will not be beaten.

Nicest | Jockey: Gavin Ryan | Place bet: 8/1

Donnacha O’Brien

The daughter of American Pharoah’s dam, Chiquita, was a winner of this race in 2013 and improvement looks likely again here.

Divinely | Jockey: Wayne Lordan | Place bet: 11/1

Aidan O’Brien

Solid place claims, but has plenty to find on Snowfall.

Willow | Jockey: Seamie Heffernan | Place bet: 14/1

Aidan O’Brien

The step back up to 12f on better ground may just have her in with an outside chance here.

La Joconde | Jockey: Emmet McNamara | Place bet: 33/1

Aidan O’Brien

Her workmanlike maiden win last time out at Roscommon was a good effort, however it’s looking very likely that her sole purpose in this race is to set a good gallop to tee up her stablemate Snowfall for the win.

Mariesque | Jockey: Shane Crosse | Place bet: 33/1

Joseph O’Brien

Improvement looks likely here for the step up to 12f, however she does look to have a task on her hands.

Party House | Jockey: Colin Keane | Place bet: 33/1

G M Lyons

Her sixth place finish in the Oaks Trial last time out behind Willow and Mariesque leaves her with a fair bit to find.

Ahandfulofsummers | Jockey: Chris Hayes | Place bet: 66/1

J A Stack

Her form doesn’t look to have worked out and her current levels fall well short of what is expected of a potential Irish Oaks and Group 1 winner.

Betting terms and conditions: Minimum deposit £5. Bet credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude bet credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Prices correct at time of publishing. Be Gamble Aware.

How can I watch the Irish Oaks?

ITV Racing will be showing the Irish Oaks live on the main ITV channel when the race gets underway at 3.25pm.

What is the prize money for winning?

The winner of the 2021 Irish Oaks will take home €228,000.

Recent Irish Oaks winners

2020: Even So, ridden by Colin Keane, trained by Ger Lyons and owned by Magnier and Paul Shanahan

2019: Star Catcher, ridden by Frankie Dettori, trained by John Gosden and owned by Anthony Oppenheimer

2018: Sea Of Class, ridden by James Doyle, trained by William Haggas and owned by Sunderland Holding Inc

2017: Enable, ridden by Frankie Dettori, trained by John Gosden and owned by Khalid Abdullah

2016: Seventh Heaven, ridden by Seamie Heffernan, trained by Aidan O’Brien and owned by Tabor, Magnier and Smith

Continued below…

A beginner’s guide to betting

If you fancy having a flutter on a horse race but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.

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Anthony Van Dyck became trainer Aidan O’Brien’s seventh Investec Derby victory when the Galileo colt stormed to success in the Group One Epsom Classic today (Saturday, 1 June).

Very little divided the top five at the finishing line, with the winning mount of Seamie Heffernan holding off the Kevin Prendergast-trained Madhmoon, under Chris Hayes, by just half a length.

O’Brien horses filled the next four places, with the Irish handler’s Japan (Wayne Lordan) finishing a nose in third.

The winning Ballydoyle three-year-old, a 13/2 shot, stayed on up the iconic Epsom home run under Irishman Seamie, who was claiming his first Investec Derby win.

“I knew he’d do it when I needed him,” said Seamie, whose bold riding was rewarded. He switched his mount left onto the rail one furlong out and the pair led 100 yards from the line.

“It is a privilege to be part of this team — the lads at home put so much in day in, day out,” said Aidan.

“A few of my horses were in with a chance during the closing stages, and I was just delighted they were a part of the race in the final furlong. It’s a tough race and, until the horse passes the finish line, you’re just never sure [of the result].”

The top Irish trainer was also thrilled for the winning jockey.

“Seamie has been placed in the Derby so many times — he is a special fella and a world-class rider.”

The victory sees Aidan equal Robert Robson, John Porter and Fred Darling for most Derby wins.

Girls on form

The fillies’ Group One equivalent, the Investec Oaks, was won by the John Gosden-trained Anapurna on Friday (31 May).

The daughter of Frankel rallied inside the final furlong under Frankie Dettori, leading the last 110 yards and beating the Aidan O’Brien-trained Pink Dogwood (Ryan Moore) by a neck.

Don’t miss our full report from the Investec Derby meeting in the 6 June issue of Horse & Hound.

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Classic-winning jockey Joseph O’Brien has decided to focus on a new career as a racehorse trainer and will not be returning to the saddle for the Flat season.

The 22-year-old has played an important role in his father Aidan’s training operation — he has been looking after a string of around 70 horses at Owning Hill in Co. Kilkenny for the past year. He has also been training a handful of point-to-pointers and had his first winner in November.

“It’s hard enough to make a decent job of one thing never mind trying to juggle two things so I’ll be concentrating on training and won’t be riding any more,” he told the Racing Post.

The Irishman is expected to obtain his own training licence next month with plans to have runners under Rules.

Continued below…

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Joseph O’Brien to focus on training point-to-pointers

Australia wins the Derby for Aidan O’Brien

The Irishman enjoyed a flourishing career in the saddle in a short period of time. He won the Derby at Epsom twice — in 2012 and 2014 — aboard Camelot and then Australia, both trained by his father.

He was also victorious in the 2,000 Guineas in 2012 riding Camelot and partnered Leading Light to win the 2013 St Leger.

Standing at 6ft — particularly tall for a jockey — Joseph faced battles with his weight throughout his riding career. Last year, he also had his first — and only — ride over jumps aboard Egyptian Warrior in a hurdle race at Limerick.

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Young Classic-winning jockey Joseph O’Brien has revealed he will be cutting down his rides on the Flat to concentrate on training point-to-pointers.

At just 22, the Irishman has already had a flourishing career in the saddle having won the Derby at Epsom twice in 2012 and 2014, aboard Camelot and then Australia — both trained by his father Aidan. He was also victorious in the 2,000 Guineas in 2012 riding Camelot and partnered Leading Light to win the 2013 St Leger.

“I am looking forward to having some point-to-point runners in the future. We have a nice team of horses under all codes at Owning Hill, both our own and for outside owners — I’m looking forward to the upcoming seasons,” said Joseph.

The 6ft jockey has faced battles with his weight throughout his career. Earlier this year, he had his first ride over jumps riding Egyptian Warrior in a hurdle race at Limerick.

Even though Joseph has not ruled out returning to the racecourse next year, he has confirmed he will be helping out at his father’s Ballydoyle yard in Co. Tipperary — while also concentrating on training a handful of pointers.

“I have been looking after the jumpers and some Flat horses for dad for the past number of months and have really enjoyed it. I ride work at Ballydoyle every morning and that is something which I will continue doing long term.

“I don’t intend to race ride as much next year but I will combine riding work at Ballydoyle and looking after the horses at Owning Hill,” he said.

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The 2015 running of the Investec Oaks today (Friday 5 June) was won by Qualify — a 50-1 shot and the least fancied of trainer Aidan O’Brien’s three runners.

This was the Ballydoyle trainer’s fifth victory in the race and made all the more special as he also bred the filly. She was ridden to victory by Colm O’Donoghue, having only his fourth ride in the Epsom Classic.

“She’s always shown us a lot of pace and she’s a well-balanced filly,” said Colm. “The thing was just to get her to switch off and to see if she’d get the trip. She saw it out really strong.”

Connections were less surprised by the result than bookies and punters.

The trainer assessed: “She was always very classy — she won a Group Three very easily at The Curragh last year. We didn’t know about a mile and a half but she’s by Fastnet Rock out of a Galileo mare and when the going gets tough they usually don’t disappoint you. Colm gave her a masterful ride.”

The favourite Legatissimo, another Irish raider sent out by David Wachman and ridden by Ryan Moore, finished a close second. In third was the Luca Cumani-trained Lady Of Dubai, with Adam Kirby in the saddle.

A steward’s enquiry was called to look at multiple incidents of interference down the home straight but this didn’t affect the winner.

The opening day at Epsom provided plenty more surprise results and 16-year-old apprentice jockey Eddy Greatrex grabbed the headlines with his classy ride on David Taylor’s homebred Elbereth to win the Investec Wealth & Investment Stakes earlier in the afternoon. This 16-1 chance was trained by Andrew Balding.

“It was a big opportunity and it just panned out,” said Eddy. “She’s game as anything – we turned in and I saw a gap. She tends to hang left but I’m just glad to get a winner for the boss. It was very hard to ride round Epsom but I think I got the hang of it in the end.”

Don’t miss the full report from Epsom in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, out Thursday 11 June.

Picture by Bill Selwyn

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Six-time Group One winner High Chaparral has died aged 15.

The popular stallion was put down at Fethard Equine Hospital yesterday (Sunday 21 December).

A statement from owners Coolmore explained that the horse had been having “exploratory colic surgery due to a perforated intestine”, but that he was put down during the operation.

The son of Sadler’s Wells won 10 from 13 races and was a Group One winner at the age of two-, three- and four-years-old.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, in 2002 High Chaparral completed a famous Derby double, taking the Epsom and Irish races.

He was ridden by Johnny Murtagh at Epsom, defeating stablemate and favourite Hawk Wing, ridden by Mick Kinane. Mick then opted to ride the horse in the Irish equivalent.

Mick Kinane told the Irish press: “It’s sad news, he was a very tough, genuine horse and was very talented.”

High Chaparral also took the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster (2001) and Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in 2003.

In 2002 he won the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Arlington Park in Chicago, and in 2003 he reclaimed the title at Santa Anita in California.

After that victory — and total career winnings of almost £3.5m — he was retired to Coolmore Stud where he stood as a successful stallion.

His most famous offspring included So You Think — who took the Cox Plate in Australia in 2009 and 2010 and the Coral-Eclipse, Irish Champion Stakes and Prince of Wales’s Stakes in the UK.

Another of his progeny is Toronado who won this year’s Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot.

He also sired It’s A Dundeel, Shoot Out and Descarado. Other successful runners by High Chaparral include Wigmore Hall — who was sadly fatally injured in September — Derby contender Western Hymn, High Jinx and Free Eagle.

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Camelot — the horse who came within a length of an historic Triple Crown — has been retired from racing.

The 4-year-old — whom trainer Aidan O’Brien called “the perfect racehorse” — will now stand at Coolmore Stud in Co Tipperary, Ireland.

Camelot, by Montjeu, was unbeaten as a 2-year-old and in 2012 became only the 3rd horse since Nijinsky in 1970 to achieve the 2,000 Guineas-Derby double.

But he was denied victory in the St Leger — the 3rd leg of the Triple Crown of English Classics — by the Mahmood al-Zarooni-trained Encke, by just ¾ of a length.

Encke was one of the Godolphin horses that tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol in April this year.

Camelot was being aimed at next month’s Breeders’ Cup in California until he was found to be lame this morning (14 October).

He earned nearly £2million prize money during his career but had struggled this season — following a colic operation last October — winning only 1 of 3 starts.

But Aidan O’Brien said Camelot had been working very well prior to his retirement.

“Unfortunately we never saw the same brilliance on the racecourse as we had done before his colic operation,” he said on the Coolmore website.

“But he was showing signs of it at home in recent weeks, so it’s disappointing that he won’t get the opportunity to run again.”

He added: “From the very first time we saw him at the sales we just loved him.

“He was a beautiful horse with a terrific action. Speed, class and super-intelligent to go with it — he had it all.”

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The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly Was won the Investec Oaks on the first day of Investec Derby Festival at Epsom by a neck.

A daughter of Galileo who cost her owners Coolmore 1.2million guineas as a yearling, Was started the race as one of the less-fancied of O’Brien’s five runners.

But once leader Nayarra dropped away, Was swept to the front under Seamus Heffernan and stayed the mile and a half well to see off second-placed Shirocco Star, who ran a terrific race for Darryl Holland and Hughie Morrison, despite getting very worked up in the preliminaries.

The Fugue, the John Gosden-trained 11-4 favourite, was lucky to survive an early bump and did well to finish third ahead of Vow.

O’Brien has now trained the winners of all three British Classics run so far this year, and his 2000 Guineas hero Camelot is red-hot favourite to take the Derby tomorrow.

“Seamus gave her a lovely ride. She’s a very good-looking filly with a great pedigree,” said O’Brien, whose son Joseph will ride Camelot in the Derby. “Seamus knows all the horse inside out [he is the Ballydoyle stable jockey] – no one deserves this more.”

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A proper race and a proper horse. Sea The Stars’ Derby victory is full of meaning. That the 2000 Guineas winner can flash home over a mile and dig deep to find that extra half a mile in the Derby is exciting, for punters and purists alike.

It would be a bit much to hope for to imagine he will go for the St Leger and the Triple Crown — his stud value is stratospheric at the moment and, sadly, a Leger win will only diminish that these days — but we can dream about it for a while.

What a stallion he should be — a half-brother to champion sire Galileo, son of an Arc heroine and, refreshingly in these Coolmore-dominated times, by a Darley miling stallion in Cape Cross. Will the Tsuis, who own Sea The Stars, be able to resist the sand dollars from Dubai? But then again, would you?

It means that the Ballydoyle/Coolmore operation isn’t invincible. Aidan O’Brien ran six horses — half the field, and although he took second, third, fourth and fifth places, there’s only one that matters. Nine out of the 12 runners were by Coolmore sires — and Sea The Stars wasn’t.

On the subject of Aidan O’Brien, he was fined £140 for each of his six horses who were late into the parade ring. Seeing the horses before the race, making your own judgements, is an integral part of the big-race experience, and watchers were very disappointed that his horses arrived seven minutes late.

The jockeys mounted immediately and the horses were led out of the paddock on their way to the course, so we had no chance to weigh them up and observe their demeanours.

It is not only nice to see them, it could be crucial betting information for the punter, and if all the other horses have to put up with the intense atmosphere of the parade ring, why shouldn’t O’Brien’s? Yes, he had to six to saddle, but couldn’t they have come up one at a time, rather than waiting to come in a gun-slinging posse?

It also meant the race was seven minutes late off, which impacts on television schedules and doesn’t exactly incline the BBC, under fire for cutting back its racing coverage, in the sport’s favour.

But none of that can overshadow a magnificent performance by a horse bred to be king, trained by a gentleman and ridden by the man with the best eyebrows in sport.

Don’t miss H&H’s special report on the Epsom Derby meeting, on sale Thursday 11 June, ’09

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Gold Cup-winning trainer Paul Nicholls was named Jump Trainer of the Year yesterday (Monday, 1 December) for the fourth consecutive year at the Horserace Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) 42nd Annual Blue Square Derby Awards lunch.

The Somerset-based trainer sent out the first three home in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Denman, Kauto Star and Neptune Collonges respectively) and has trained the last three winners of the Tingle Creek (Kauto Star in 2005/06 and Twist Magic in 2007). His horse Master Minded is current favourite for the Tingle Creek at Sandown on Saturday (6 December).

Paul’s stable jockey Ruby Walsh — who is currently sidelined after having his spleen removed last month — was named Jump Jockey of the Year.

Flat Jockey of the Year went to Johnny Murtagh – whose successes in 2008 include the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot (Duke of Marmalade), the Prix Morny (Bushranger) The 2000 Guineas and Irish 2000 Guineas (Henrythenavigator) and the Ascot Gold Cup (Yeats).

Aidan O’Brien received the Flat Trainer of the Year award for his 23 Group 1 winners in the 2007/08 season. The Co-Wexford-based trainer was unable to attend though as his father died on Sunday (30 November).

Breeders’ Cup winning trainer John Gosden was named International Trainer of the Year after his wins with Raven’s Pass and Donativum at Santa Anita in October while Denman’s owners Paul Barber and Margaret Findlay received the Owner of the Year accolade.

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After a closely fought season William Buick and David Probert shared the champion apprentice title with 50 wins each when the 2007-8 Flat season ended on Saturday (8 November).

Both are stable apprentices with Andrew Balding.

Ryan Moore took the champion Flat jockey title for a second time with 186 wins. He was also champion in 2006.

Aidan O’Brien was named champion trainer with prize money totalling £3,276,097 and Princess Haya champion owner with winnings of £2,161,396.

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Multiple Group One-winning trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockeys Johnny Murtagh and Colm O’Donoghue have been found guilty of breaching “team tactics” rules in the Juddmonte International last month.

After a 3-hour hearing at the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) headquarters, on London’s Shaftesbury Avenue, yesterday (25 September), Mr O’Brien was fined £5,000 by the BHA and both jockeys were banned for 7 days.

BHA media relations manager Paul Struthers said: “As all parties have 7 days from the receipt of the [BHA] disciplinary panel’s reasons to appeal, it would be inappropriate to comment on today’s proceedings.

“But, I would like to stress that in reaching their conclusions the panel made clear there was no attempt to cheat, simply that the breaches occurred due to ignorance of the details of the rule in question”

When the bans start will depend on whether an appeal is lodged — but it will not affect Mr Murtagh’s ride in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in Paris on 5 October.

The BHA inquiry was a result of Duke of Marmalade’s win in the 2008 Juddmonte International Stakes at Newmarket in August.

Inquiries were made by the BHA after the authority reviewed a video of the race in which Mr O’Donogue, who was riding Red Rock Canyon, appeared to look over his shoulder and move across to let stablemate Duke of Marmalade through.

And comments made by Mr Murtagh to the press after the race suggested that he had a pre-arranged plan with Mr O’Donoghue to act as a pacemaker to help Duke of Marmalade win.

Mr O’Donoghue admitted acting in the interests of Duke of Marmalade to the BHA disciplinary panel but claimed he was unaware of the team tactics rule.

Duke of Marmalade’s jockey, Mr Murtagh, was found guilty by the BHA of acting contrary to the proper conduct of racing but not the integrity of racing.

Mr O’Brien argued in the hearing that he would rather lose the races than win unjustly. He said he had been paranoid about “team tactics” ever since he was accused of employing them in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 2006.

The BHA’s team tactics rule, 153 (iv), was introduced in March 2007. It forbids a runner to make a manoeuvre in the interests of another from the same stable.

Mr O’Brien, Mr Murtagh and Mr O’Donoghue all claimed to have been unaware of rule until the St Leger meeting (10-13 September) when jockeys were given a note on the regulations regarding pacemakers.

The trio left Shaftesbury Avenue without making any comment.

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Trainer Aidan O’Brien recorded his 17th Group One win of the season at Glorious Goodwood on Saturday (2 August).

The Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Halfway to Heaven held off even-money favourite Lush Lashes in the Blue Square Nassau Stakes — winning by just a head.

Ridden by Johnny Murtagh, Halfway to Heaven took an early lead before settling behind Muthabara. Taking the lead in the final furlong, the pair denied Jim Bolger-trained filly Lush Lashes of the win.

Kevin Manning and Lush Lashes had a troubled run, finding themselves boxed in more than once. The three-year-old was favourite after her comfortable win in the Coronation Cup at Royal Ascot in June.

In a tight finish Henry Cecil’s Passage of Time came home third, just a head behind Lush Lashes. Heaven Sent was another head behind in fourth.

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Glorious Goodwood certainly lived up to its name today for connections of Henrythenavigator.

A win by a head in the BGC Sussex Stakes provided the 3-year-old with his 4th consecutive Group One win. This marked trainer Aidan O’Brien’s 16th Group One victory this year.

Henrythenavigator held off strong competition from his old rival John Gosden’s Raven’s Pass, ridden by Jimmy Fortune, winning by just a head.

Major Cadeaux, ridden by Richard Hughes and trained by Richard Hannon was just three quarters of a length behind in third.

Goodwood treble for Murtagh

Winning jockey Johnny Murtagh celebrated the win as part of a Goodwood second-day treble. He also won on Baddam in the 2.15pm Goodwood Stakes and Love Galore in the 4.05pm Heritage Handicap.

“The good horses have everything…when he hit the finish line he was still full of running,” Johnny told Channel 4 Racing

At 4-11 favourite Henrythenavigator was the shortest-priced horse in the race’s history.

Henrythenavigator now looks set for a rest before returning to action in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in September. He has previously won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Ascot this year.

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Irish racehorse trainer Aidan O’Brien had cause to celebrate last weekend (26-27 July), securing two Group One wins in two days and taking his tally to 15 Group One wins this season — more than most would dream of in a lifetime.

It was a cracking weekend for Aidan as the four-year-old horse Duke of Marmalade won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday (26 July), while Mastercraftsman took the Independent Waterford Wedgewood Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh on Sunday (27 July).

Duke of Marmalade, the 4-6 favourite ridden by Johnny Murtagh, held off Papal Bull by just half a length in a thrilling finish — recording the third fastest King George win in history.

It was also the colt’s fourth successive Group One win, and his first run over a mile-and-a-half.

Racehorse Mastercraftsman, who was also ridden by Johnny Murtagh, raced clear by four and a half lengths from Jamie Spencer and Art Connoisseur at The Curragh and is now favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas.

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Dylan Thomas gave Aidan O’Brien his second King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot today when he powered home four lengths clear of Youmzain to win what has always been regarded as the mid-season middle distance championship.

The O’Brien camp, whose Scorpion made much of the running to help set the race up for his stable companion, had expressed fears about the ground earlier in the week but a couple of drying days had turned a quagmire into a ‘beautiful’ ground.

Johnny Murtagh, the winning jockey, had a job to settle his mount early on but when he pulled him wide for a run two furlongs out the result never looked in doubt. Youmzain, who had slipped-streamed him, threatened for the briefest of moments but flattered to deceive. “It’s amazing how easy they are to ride when they’re travelling for you,” said Murtagh.

For much of the week the media had panned the race as sub-standard and, although there were no three-year-olds in the line up, even Manduro, currently the highest rated horse in Europe, would have struggled to go with Dylan Thomas today whose one requirement, explained O’Brien, is a strongly run race.

“He’s a proper horse off a strong pace, he’s won an Irish Derby and the Irish Champion Stakes over a mile and a quarter so he’s proved he’s top class,” said O’Brien. “I’ve always regarded the King George as a top race and it’s no different this year. Last year we wanted to run Dylan Thomas in the Arc but had to stand down (for Hurricane Run – in the same ownership) but maybe this year we’ll be able to run.”

Two and a half lengths behind Youmzain in third was Maraahel who is still to crack a Group One victory, with Godolphin’s Laverock in fourth. The popular stayer Sergeant Cecil finished sixth beating just one home, the German raider Prince Flori.

www.ascot.co.uk

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Aidan O’Brien trained his fifth winner of the Budweiser Irish Derby in 10 years yesterday when Soldier Of Fortune relished the muddy ground at The Curragh to win by nine lengths.

O’Brien also trained the second and third home — Alexander Of Hales and the 6-4 favourite Eagle Mountain — his second 1-2-3 in two weeks, after the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Ridden by Ballydoyle stalwart Seamus Heffernan, for whom this was a first win in Ireland’s most important flat race, Soldier Of Fortune grabbed the lead two furlongs from home and accelerated away from his rivals in impressive fashion.

The son of Galileo, who won the Irish Derby in 2001 for the same connections, won the Chester Vase before finishing fifth behind Authorized in the Epsom Derby. Options on the agenda for the colt include the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.

Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full report on all the action from The Curragh, in this Thursday’s magazine (5 July, ’07)

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