Royal Ascot: Aidan O'Brien's runners

Aidan O'Brien is the powerhouse trainer when it comes to elite level Flat racing in Europe and the Irishman is certain to be sending a strong team to Royal Ascot.

O'Brien has been the leading trainer at Royal Ascot five times since 2016, including last year, and he's very likely to contend for that gong again this year. 

Here we take a look at some of possible Royal Ascot contenders in 2023, with a reminder that every race across the five days from Tuesday 20th June – Saturday 24th June can be watched via the bet365 Sports Live Streaming service.

Coventry Stakes

River Tiber @ 5/2

Wootton Bassett colt River Tiber has established himself as one of O'Brien's leading early-season two-year-olds and heads the betting for the Coventry Stakes on 20th June after impressive wins at Navan and Naas. 

He's been odds-on for both contests and has already won on soft/good ground, so conditions are no concern heading for Berkshire. 

O'Brien has won the Coventry a record nine times, though not since Arizona scored in 2019.

Ascot Gold Cup

Emily Dickinson @ 5/1

Early season dispatches from Ballydoyle confirmed hopes that Emily Dickinson could be a 'cup horse' this summer and the filly enhanced those claims with her stylish Vintage Crop win at Navan on comeback. 

That saw her trade as favourite for the Ascot Gold Cup – a race her stablemate and defending champion Kyprios is set to miss out on – but she was then surprisingly beaten at Leopardstown in the Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes in mid-May. 

That was over 1m6f and given she was very impressive in her season-ending two-mile Curragh success last October, the Gold Cup on 22nd June still looks a likely target.

St James's Palace Stakes

Paddington @ 3/1

Paddington is the three-year-old O'Brien horse that has really enhanced his reputation this season while others have gone backwards. 

He won a handicap off a mark of 97 at Naas in his comeback in March then added a mile Listed success at the Curragh in early May before a fine display to win the Irish 2000 Guineas back there towards the end of the month. 

He ultimately won that well and a clash with Newmarket Classic winner Chaldean (6/4) in the St James's Palace Stakes at Ascot could be his reward for that career-best showing.

Prince Of Wales's Stakes

Luxembourg @ 3/1

Luxembourg has always been one that O'Brien held in high regard and last year's Irish Champion Stakes winner is starting to fulfil his potential. 

The Arc didn't quite work out for him but his trainer suggested that: "He did really well over the winter both physically and mentally. He's a bigger, stronger horse this year." 

His gutsy all-the-way win in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May confirmed that notion, when he really dug deep to fend off Bay Bridge late on. 

Winners of the Champion Stakes at Ascot and Leopardstown last season, Bay Bridge (4/1) and Luxembourg could be set for a mouth-watering rematch in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes come 21st June at Royal Ascot.

Commonwealth Cup

Little Big Bear @ 13/8

O'Brien labelled the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket a 'write off' for his two contenders Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear after they were both in the last three home. 

The latter has since put that behind him when scoring convincingly in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock. 

That Group 2 win ensured he has won five of six over sprint trips, his only reverse coming by a short-head at the Curragh on debut last year. 

He is now at the head of the betting for Commonwealth Cup glory at Royal Ascot on 23rd June and it seems sure that a very smart three-year-old speedster will be needed to prevent him obliging.

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes

Tenebrism @ 12/1

The Ballydoyle supremo doesn't shy away from admitting an error and he suggested that he'd 'tried to make a miler' out of Tenebrism last season only to eventually see that the daughter of Caravaggio wants to be a sprinter. 

She proved that with a Listed win at Cork on soft-to-heavy ground in her comeback over 6f in April and then found one too strong just 16 days later at Naas when dropped to 5f. 

That might have come up too soon for her and, after a short break, she may take up her engagement in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on the final afternoon of the meeting, Saturday 24th June.