Newbury trends best bet: Chantilly overpriced for strong bid in London Gold Cup
Our resident racing expert Andrew of Fiosrach wraps up his weekly selections by aiming his trends-based analysis at one of the biggest races on Newbury’s Saturday card.
The presence of the multiple winning British and Irish Champion flat trainer in the parade ring is an ominous sight for opponents with O'Brien collecting the majority of the world's top Group One races in his stellar career.
On top of his record-breaking nine Epsom Derby wins, O'Brien has won the Irish Derby 14 times, the Newmarket 2000 Guineas 10 times, The Breeder's Cup Turf on six occasions and also collected a pair of Prix de l'Arc De Triomphe victories.
It's Champion Hurdle day! 🏆
— Odds Manager (@OddsManagerUK) March 16, 2021
Here's the legendary Istabraq winning the big one back in 2000! 🏇🌬️#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/515XXr6e0x
🏡 #StayHome
— WR1 (@WorldRacing1) March 25, 2020
✅ Epsom Derby
✅ Irish Derby
✅ King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes
👑 #King GALILEO#LoveTheHorse #HorseRacing pic.twitter.com/wBcTKrPIHW
Galileo's prize money for the Magnier connections was £580,000 but has earned many times that through his breeding, with offspring including the superlative Frankel.
The O'Brien trained Rock of Gibraltar bought a record seven Group One wins in a row in 01/02 and also a legal wrangle between the horse's owners the Magniers and the Manchester United football manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
GALILEO is The Derby Daddy. "He's the holy one," @PaulSmith0094
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) July 4, 2020
💫 New Approach
💫 Ruler Of The World
💫 Australia
💫 Anthony Van Dyck
💫 Serpentine@coolmorestud #HomeOfChampions pic.twitter.com/wymyEQ4YmJ
Covid-19 meant there were no racegoers in attendance but the shocked silence would have been similar if the place had been full, as Serpentine opened up a 12 length lead round Tattenham Corner and was never headed.
Investec Derby - Group I
— WR1 (@WorldRacing1) July 4, 2020
2420 m, 500.000 GBP, for 3yo
🇬🇧Epsom
Serpentine (IRE)
(3C Galileo - Remember When by Danehill Dancer)
J : Emmet McNamara
T : A.P. O'Brien
B : Coolmore
O : Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
2nd Khalifa Sat pic.twitter.com/AHR7risHId
In April 2024, O’Brien became the fourth trainer to be inducted into the Qipco British Champions Series Hall of Fame.
O’Brien joined Sir Michael Stoute, Sir Henry Cecil and his namesake and forerunner at Ballydoyle, Vincent O’Brien.
O’Brien has continued to break new ground since his first winner at Tralee in June 1993.
He will be recognised with a medal presentation before racing on 2000 Guineas day at Newmarket.
“It is incredible, and a privilege for us, as it is something we would never have expected,” said O’Brien.
“The people, and horses, that have gone before us I feel very privileged to have worked with. I can’t say how delighted, and honoured, I feel.”
Reflecting on his highlights to date, he said: “Galileo winning the Derby was my first Derby, and it was Sadler’s Wells’ first Derby winner, so that was very special.
“To win a Derby was something out of this world, and it is something we thought would never happen. That will be a day that we will remember for a long time.
“There is no doubt it is all about the people. We always say you can have the horses about the place, but if you don’t have the people, it is a waste of time. They are the ones that put in the hard work, day in, day out, and we appreciate that. ”
Our resident racing expert Andrew of Fiosrach wraps up his weekly selections by aiming his trends-based analysis at one of the biggest races on Newbury’s Saturday card.
Forget the Lockinge at Newbury, there's some quality racing on the Emerald Isle too, with an eight-race offering from Navan spearheaded by the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Yeats Stakes on May 18.
The ITV cameras are at Newbury and Newmarket on Saturday, to make your betting slips nice and confusing. But the Planet Sport tipsters are on hand to point you in the right direction on May 18.
The withdrawal of strongly fancied Hamish has reduced the Yorkshire Cup field to just six starters, but nonetheless there’s enough quality on show to suggest we have a gripping contest in store.
It's the final day of the Dante Festival at York and the Planet Sport tipsters are back to take a final swing at the six races ITV cameras are covering on Friday, May 17.
York’s feature race is the Festival’s eponymous Dante Stakes, with the small field made up for by the high quality of the seven runners contesting the biggest prize of the prestigious meeting.
The Flat season steps up another notch on Saturday afternoon, with Lingfield's Derby Trial offering nine three-year-old colts the opportunity to strut their stuff in next month’s Epsom Classic.