O'Brien launches strong Ascot assault

ASCOT NEWS:AIDAN O'BRIEN could have up to 15 runners at the Royal Ascot extravaganza which begins on Tuesday, with the Derby failure Black Bear Island due to make a quick reappearance in the King Edward VII Stakes.

Black Bear Island started a well-backed 7 to 1 shot to emulate his brother High Chaparral at Epsom, but managed to beat only two home behind Sea The Stars.

O’Brien has already expressed his desire to tackle the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh later this month in strength, but Black Bear Island will get an early chance to rehabilitate his reputation next Friday.

“Things just didn’t work for him at Epsom but he has come out of the race fine and seems to be well in himself,” the champion trainer said yesterday.

He joins a strong team of horses travelling from Ballydoyle that will be led by the St James’s Palace Stakes winner Mastercraftsman in Tuesday’s feature as well as Yeats, who remains on track to attempt a record four-in-a-row in Thursday’s Gold Cup.

O’Brien enjoyed a remarkable Royal Ascot in 2008 with six victories that included four of the seven Group One races on offer through the week. His other Group One hopeful this time is the filly Heart Shaped in Friday’s Coronation Stakes.

As well as Mastercraftsman and one other runner in the St James’s Palace, O’Brien will also be represented on Tuesday in the Coventry Stakes, with Air Chief Marshal the likely starter as the trainer yesterday described Steinbeck as “unlikely” to run.

There will be a Ballydoyle blank on Wednesday, but as well as Yeats in Thursday’s Gold Cup, O’Brien will be represented in the Hampton Court Stakes by the Dante runner-up Freemantle, while the trio of Rockhampton, Johann Zoffany and Changingoftheguard have handicap options.

Friday may see Yankee Doodle and Stately Home take part in the Queens Vase, while the impressive Naas winner, Lillie Langtry, is being targeted at the Albany Stakes.

Saturday’s Ballydoyle contenders are the Chesham Stakes possibles Beethoven and Emperor Claudius.

Johnny Murtagh’s five-day suspension picked up at Epsom last week rules him out of the final two days at Ascot and O’Brien added yesterday: “We are going to have to sort out jockey arrangements for that. Nothing has been finalised.”

Despite that ban, Murtagh remains an 11 to 4 second-favourite in betting for the prize as next week’s leading rider. Ryan Moore has been installed a 6 to 4 market leader with Skybet.

Just 10 runners remain in the Gold Cup after yesterday’s forfeit stage, with Yeats again joined by Geordieland, who has finished runner-up to him for the last two years. Godolphin have three options, including Eastern Anthem, while two ex-Ballydoyle horses are also engaged, Hindu Kush and Washington Irving.

Jubilant Note thrived on fast ground to win a chase at Cork eight days ago and tries hurdles this evening at Limerick in the €24,000 handicap.

However, a better option at the other end of the weights could be Zanderi, a Cork winner in 2007, who returned to action with an encouraging run on the flat behind Clopf at Leopardstown.

The Paul Nolan-Alain Cawley team may also score today with Captain Nash, while View Mount Prince can take the beginners chase.