In 2017, Aidan O’Brien set a worldwide record of 28 wins in Group 1 or Grade 1’s in a year.

This year, after the Irish Champions Festival, he stands on 18, the same mark he was on going into this weekend at Newmarket. In 2017, he won both the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes with 15/8F Clemmie and the G1 Middle Park Stakes with 10/1 shot US Navy Flag.

Can he do it again?

He’s doubly represented in the Fillies race with True Love, the favourite at 9/4, and Beautify, third choice in the market at 9/2. In the Colts race, he runs three, all outsiders: Kansas at 11/1, Brussels also at 11/1, and First Approach at 100/1.

Cheveley Park Stakes

True Love, the mount of Wayne Lordan, has had a consistent season; she was beaten in her first two runs by Lady Iman and then Gstaad. She then came good at G2 level in the Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. She added the Railway Stakes at the Curragh, another G2, before being sent off 1/4F for her first try at G1 level in the Phoenix Stakes, where she could only finish second to Power Blue, a horse she’d beaten 5L in the Railway.

Beautify, the mount of Tom Marquand, is less experienced than her stablemate. She finished third in a Maiden first time out but was quickly stepped up into G2 company in the Airlie Stud Stakes, where she duly obliged, beating Lady Iman. She had a good break coming back to contest the G1 Moyglare Stakes, where she finished second to Precise, beaten ¾L.

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Middle Park Stakes

First Approach, the mount of Gavin Ryan, is likely to ensure an honest pace in the Colts’ race. He’s already had eight runs this season, one win, a Maiden second time out (Kansas back in third), and he’s been campaigned at a lower level than this.

Kansas, ridden by Tom Marquand, has a race record of one win from seven; however, his last two runs have been promising. He was beaten a head at Listed level and built on that when filling the same spot in the G2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster.

Brussels, with Wayne Lordan aboard, has had four runs. He beat Kansas first time out, was 2¾L behind Zavateri in the G2 July Stakes. He was then dropped in class, finishing runner-up in a Tipperary Listed event, and subsequently managed only fourth in a sales race at Doncaster.

There’s every chance Aidan will win the Cheveley Park with both fillies giving him a strong hand; preference is for Beautify, she can build on her very good run at the Curragh; however, he may be congratulating his son Joseph after the Middle Park.

Joseph sends the once-race The Publican’s Son to Newmarket, booking Oisin Murphy. He only made his debut a couple of weeks ago when thrown in at the deep end contesting the G3 Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh, he was sent off a 40/1 shot. He defied those odds, he broke slowly, he was dropped in last but came through the field, going only down ¾L to Mission Central, a colt who’d won his Maiden by 8L before that. In 2017 US Navy Flag won the Round Tower before going on to win the Middle Park and the Dewhurst.

Recommendation

Cheveley Park Stakes Beautify 9/2 win

Middle Park Stakes The Publican’s Son 4/1 win

Precise and The Publican’s Son Double

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