Aidan O'Brien runners: Ballydoyle chief out to extend record Royal Ascot tally

Aidan O'Brien will go in search of being crowned leading trainer at Royal Ascot for the eighth time in a decade next week.

The Ballydoyle supremo heads the list for current trainers at Royal Ascot with 85 winners at the meeting and he shares the post-war record of seven winners at the meeting in one year with the late Sir Henry Cecil, a feat O'Brien managed in 2016.

With another big week anticipated for O'Brien, who is 1/4 to be leading trainer, at the famous Berkshire layout, we are looking at some of his possible leading contenders for Royal Ascot 2024.

Don't forget, every race across the five days of the Royal Ascot meeting can be watched on the bet365 Sports Live Streaming platform.

Camille Pissarro (Coventry Stakes) @ 4/1

O'Brien's 10 wins in the Coventry Stakes is a record and he won last year's running with River Tiber. This time, Navan maiden winner Camille Pissarro looks a leading contender having since finished a head-second behind Arizona Blaze in the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh on second start.

Henry Longfellow (St James's Palace Stakes) @ 4/1

O'Brien has pinpointed this race and suggested Henry Longfellow's prep in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains was a 'mess', where his charge suffered lots of interference and it became a non-event.

That was a first defeat for the winner of last year's Group 1 National Stakes and his trainer has shown how his charges can rebound in spectacular fashion with City Of Troy's Newmarket Guineas to Epsom Derby turnaround.

Auguste Rodin (Prince of Wales's Stakes) @ 7/4

Winner of the English and Irish Derby's last season, Auguste Rodin went on to land the Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita after flopping here in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes in July.

Old rival White Birch beat him fair and square in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last month, and they may meet again at Ascot.

Opera Singer (Coronation Stakes) @ 9/4

Opera Singer ended last season as a Group 1 winner at Longchamp on Arc weekend. She began this campaign with a slightly disappointing fourth in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh in May, though her trainer has since suggested she needed to get that run under her belt following a spring setback in order that she be right for this contest.

Kyprios (Gold Cup) @ 4/5

Gutsy winner of the Gold Cup in 2022, Kyprios missed the defence of that title last June after a minor setback and was then beaten in both starts when he did return, including here on Champions Day over shorter.

He's 2-2 this season, however, and seemingly fully geared up to try and win back this crown as his trainer bids for a record-extending ninth Gold Cup.

Whistlejacket (Norfolk Stakes) @ 6/4

Whistlejacket is likely to be a warm order for the Norfolk Stakes. He was second on debut behind a smart performer in Cowardofthecounty. On his next start he readily dismissed Arizona Blaze at the Curragh (5f, soft) in a Listed race and the runner-up has advertised that form by winning a Group 3 since.

Fairy Godmother (Queen Mary) @ 10/1

O'Brien has suggested that Fairy Godmother is very much learning on the job after two runs at Naas. She was beaten on debut by Sparkling Sea in a maiden, but turned that around since in the Group 3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes and her trainer feels that bare form is set to be improved upon again at Ascot.

Continuous (Hardwicke) @ 9/4

Positive tactics could be in store for Continuous, not spotted since the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last season but a contender O'Brien is on record stating he's very happy sending Royal Ascot without a prep run.

The 2023 St Leger winner was second to King Of Steel at this meeting last year and looks a key player for the Ballydoyle conveyor belt on what promises to be another successful Royal Ascot for the all-conquering trainer.