From the moment the flat season begins in earnest, the name of Aidan O’Brien is rarely far from the racing headlines. Such is his record on British and Irish soil that his runners invariably generate the most hype in the build-up to the biggest events. And, more often than not, they deliver.
Last week, the master of Ballydoyle unleashed his squad on the Chester May Meeting to spectacular effect. Still not satisfied, he added further Classic trial success at Lingfield on Saturday afternoon, before rounding off the week with a sparkling victory in the French 1,000 Guineas.
O’Brien Claims Chester Clean Sweep
Always one of the most anticipated multi-day meetings of Spring, the Chester May Meeting has become a key date in the diary for Aidan O’Brien. This three-day, Wednesday to Friday fixture is home to five contests rated at Listed level or above: three recognised Classic trials and two quality contests for the older horses.
Already the most successful trainer in the history of four of the five events, O’Brien is certainly no stranger to success on the Roodee. However, he had never previously won all five Listed and Group events in the same season. Following three days of sizzling displays, he can now add that impressive feat to his list of achievements.
Cheshire Oaks 2026 Result
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Amelia Earhart | 13/8 | Aidan O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 2nd | I’m The One | 6/5 | John & Thady Gosden | William Buick |
| 3rd | A La Prochaine | 12/1 | Ralph Beckett | James Doyle |
Amelia Earhart set the ball rolling in the Cheshire Oaks. Successful at the fifth attempt in her juvenile campaign, the market suggested she may play second fiddle to the John & Thady Gosden-trained I’m The One. However, with stablemate Sugar Island ensuring this was a true test, Amelia Earhart soared clear on the run-in to score by two lengths. Amelia Earhart now heads the Oaks market at a general 5/2 as she bids to emulate stablemate Minnie Hauk, who completed the Cheshire Oaks/Epsom Oaks double in 2025.
Chester Vase Stakes 2026 Result
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Benvenuto Cellini | 2/9 | Aidan O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 2nd | Proposition | 14/1 | Aidan O’Brien | Wayne Lordan |
| 3rd | Mr Colonel | 40/1 | Richard & Peter Fahey | Shane Gray |
Half an hour after the Cheshire Oaks, Derby credentials were on the line in the Chester Vase. This time, the betting suggested that O’Brien held the ace in the pack, with his strapping colt Benvenuto Cellini starting as the 2/9 favourite. In a similar setup to the Cheshire Oaks, Ballydoyle’s second-string Proposition cut out the running but had no answers as Benvenuto Cellini – who looked like a giant compared to his stablemate – strode clear to score by 4½l. With this effort erasing the memory of a subpar outing in the Futurity Trophy, the son of Frankel is a general 11/4 favourite for the Epsom Derby.
Dee Stakes 2026 Result
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Constitution River | 2/9 | Aidan O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 2nd | Generic | 22/1 | Andrew Balding | Oisin Murphy |
| 3rd | Golden Story | 10/1 | K R Burke | Clifford Lee |
Moving on to Day 2, O’Brien was responsible for the odds-on favourites in the Dee Stakes and Ormonde Stakes. First up in the 1m2½f Derby trial, Constitution River delivered in emphatic style. A class apart from his four rivals, the mount of Ryan Moore quickened fully seven lengths clear on the run-in. Shooting towards the head of the Derby market on the back of this display, he now lies behind only Benvenuto Cellini at a best price of 9/2.
Ormonde Stakes 2026 Result
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jan Brueghel | 4/7 | Aidan O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 2nd | Mount Atlas | 10/1 | Andrew Balding | Oisin Murphy |
| 3rd | Illinois | 9/2 | Aidan O’Brien | Wayne Lordan |
The Ormonde Stakes then saw the seasonal return of the 2024 St Leger winner, Jan Brueghel, who stayed on best for a cosy 2½l victory.
Huxley Stakes 2026 Result
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lambourn | 6/4 | Aidan O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 2nd | Bay City Roller | 9/2 | George Scott | Oisin Murphy |
| 3rd | Ice Max | 16/1 | K R Burke | Sam James |
Four down, and only one to go, the task of completing the set lay with the 2025 Epsom Derby champ Lambourn. While proven at the track, having claimed the Chester Vase at last year’s meeting, the 1m2½f trip looked at the bottom end of his range. However, that wasn’t enough to stop him. Given an expert ride by Moore, he scored by a gutsy neck.
Cameo and Cross Enter Epsom Mix at Lingfield
With the Chester May Meeting drawing to a close on Friday, Saturday afternoon saw the Classic focus switch to Lingfield. Charlie Appleby saddled the favourites in both the Oaks and Derby Trials, in the shape of Romantic Symphony and Maho Bay. However, both performed way below expectations, as the poor form of Godolphin’s number one handler continued.
With Romantic Symphony trailing home in fifth, the fillies’ event saw a continuation of the Chester trend. Aidan O’Brien’s Bloom made the running before being brushed aside by stablemate Cameo, who posted a 4¾l success. This looked like a solid effort, but the compilers were relatively unimpressed, with Cameo available to back at 25/1 for the Oaks.
Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes 2026 Result
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Cameo | 10/3 | Aidan O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 2nd | Prizeland | 17/2 | Andrew Balding | David Probert |
| 3rd | Bloom | 10/3 | Aidan O’Brien | Tom Marquand |
In a rare blip for O’Brien, Isaac Newton disappointed in the Derby Trial. With Maho Bay also failing to hit the heights, it was left to Ralph Beckett’s Bay Of Brilliance and Maltese Cross, from the William Haggas operation, to fight out the finish.
Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes 2026 Result
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Maltese Cross | 9/4 | William Haggas | Tom Marquand |
| 2nd | Bay Of Brilliance | 15/2 | Ralph Beckett | Hector Crouch |
| 3rd | Balzac | 22/1 | Jane Chapple-Hyam | Silvestre De Sousa |
Showing admirable stamina and determination, Maltese Cross toughed it out to score by a neck. Summing up this effort, jockey Tom Marquand stated:
“He’ll relish the Derby trip, and the track won’t be a problem.”
At a general 12/1, Maltese Cross lies behind only Benvenuto Cellini and Constitution River in the Derby market.
Diamond Delivers in French 1,000 Guineas
While the domestic trials focused on the 1m4f events to come, the Paris track of Longchamp provided the latest stop on the European 1m Classic tour. Taking place on Sunday afternoon, the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and Poule d’Essai des Pouliches are the French equivalents of the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas and attract a similarly high-calibre field.
Continuing the theme of last week’s racing headlines, O’Brien saddled the favourite in both races. The 2025 Criterium International winner, Puerto Rico, was the first to take to the Grand Piste course but couldn’t match the finishing burst of the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Rayif and finished only fourth. Better was to come in the fillies’ event.
Unbeaten in three starts at two, Diamond Necklace was well-fancied by many to land the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Having left that race to stablemate True Love, she started at odds of 4/5 to extend her winning streak into her three-year-old season. She did so in style. Well-positioned throughout, the daughter of St Mark’s Basilica shot through the gap on the rail to put three lengths between herself and the field. Diamond Necklace is the second-favourite for the Oaks following this performance but may instead return to France for the Prix de Diane.
