Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien may have missed out in the opening Classics of the season, with neither Expanded nor Lake Victoria managing to trouble the judge in their Guineas assignments. However, in hindsight, perhaps those performances were to be expected. Following the withdrawals of The Lion In Winter and Twain, Expanded only became the yard number one at the 11th hour. Lake Victoria, meanwhile, didn’t enjoy the smoothest of preparations and is expected to improve for the run.
Better may be yet to come from the vanquished Newmarket duo. However, thoughts now turn to the Coolmore colts and fillies with an eye on the next Classics on the calendar – the Derby and the Oaks from Epsom.
With trials season in full swing, O’Brien has taken positive first steps towards Epsom. Thanks to the exploits of Mini Hauk, Lambourn, and Mount Kilimanjaro, the trainer claimed all three Classic Trials at Chester’s Boodles May Festival. Next up, Trials Day at Lingfield on Saturday afternoon, where O’Brien looks to have a stranglehold on the main events.
William Hill Oaks Trial: Giselle the Best of a Small Bunch
Whilst O’Brien comfortably tops the all-time trainers table in the three trial races at Chester, the same isn’t true in the Lingfield equivalents. Successful with Baraka in 2004 and Seventh Heaven in 2016, O’Brien has landed the opening Oaks Trial only twice, placing him five wins behind the legendary Sir Henry Cecil. However, the market suggests he has outstanding claims of bagging win number three in 2025.
The Oaks Trial has attracted a double-figure field only once in the past decade, but can usually be relied upon to produce a competitive 6-9 runner contest. As such, the fact that only three fillies will line up this year is desperately disappointing. Of the trio, the Aidan O’Brien filly, Giselle, is the only runner who holds an entry in the Oaks itself.
Sired by the mighty Frankel, and out of the Grade 1-winning US star Newpaperofrecord, Giselle boasts the stellar pedigree typical of a Ballydoyle runner. Whilst winning only one of three starts at two, she ran well each time and looked the type to improve as she grew into her considerable frame. The step up in trip from a mile poses a question – particularly as rival Harpsichord has already won over 1m4f – but the mount of Ryan Moore is the one to beat on ratings. Whether she will entice many into a punt at odds of just 2/7 is another question.
William Hill Derby Trial: Puppet to Master Rivals
First successful with Alessandro Volta in 2008 and most recently with United Nations in 2022, O’Brien has six wins in the Lingfield Derby Trial. However, that still places him four wins behind Cecil Boyd-Rochfort in the all-time table. The pick of the O’Brien sextet was the ill-fated Anthony Van Dyck, who followed up with a famous success at Epsom.
With seven intriguing colts set to go to post, the Derby Trial promises to be a more compelling spectacle than the fillies’ race. Andrew Balding, James Owen, Richard Hannon, Roger Varian, and Ralph Beckett are all represented. However, the O’Brien duo of Puppet Master and Stay True currently sit first and second in the betting at a general 11/8 and 9/4.
Last Chance for Galileo, but Moore Prefers Stablemate
This year represents the last chance for the sadly departed Galileo to add to his five Derby wins as a sire. Lacking an entry in the 2025 Derby, his hopes may hinge on his son Stay True earning himself a supplementary entry with an impressive display in this. A strong-staying debut success at Leopardstown in April offered hope, but Ryan Moore opts to ride Puppet Master.
With four starts to his name, Puppet Master arrives with more experience than his stablemate. However, having finished fourth in his two most recent outings in Group 3 and Group 2 company, he still only has a maiden win to his name. That said, his effort behind Delacroix and Lambourn in the Ballysax is the best form on offer in this field and, being by Camelot, he has every chance of improving over the longest trip of his career to date.
Having swept the board at Chester, will it be a case of O’Brien at the double at Lingfield?