Royal Ascot 2019: Aidan O'Brien begins with two wins as favourites have day to forget
Re-live the action from the first day at Royal Ascot
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Your support makes all the difference.Hitting the ground running has not quite been the style of Aidan O'Brien at Royal Ascot in recent seasons - but an opening-day double at this year's meeting swiftly changed such an approach.
Having failed to saddle a winner on the first day of the meeting for the past two seasons, there might have been a few willing to discount runners saddled by the master Ballydoyle trainer on Tuesday, given his recent trend of starting the event slowly and finishing with a flourish.
However, those willing to ignore the statistics and follow the man that has dominated proceedings on the biggest stages in Britain were well rewarded, to set what the nine-times leading trainer at Ascot will be hoping is a theme that will continue throughout the rest of the meeting.
After watching Arizona and Ryan Moore leap to the head of the market for next year's 2000 Guineas with victory in the Coventry Stakes, O'Brien pulled off what looked a real masterstroke when dropping Derby also-ran Circus Maximus back to a mile to capture the St James's Palace Stakes.
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Lord Glitters trainer David O'Meara: "He always runs well on this track."
Perhaps we should be looking for good course history here.
3:05 Coventry Stakes
Up next is the £85,065 Group 2 Coventry Stakes, raced over six furlongs.
Our prediction
Threat had its sights immediately set on this race after winning on the Guinees weekend at Newmarket in May. Arizona and Guildsman can also very well build on their previous wins in a race that is likely to come down to a jockey performance.
15:05 Coventry Stakes
Arizona – 5/2
Threat – 7/2
Guildsman – 6/1
Monoski – 9/1
Fort Myers – 18/1
Royal Lytham – 18/1
Well of Wisdom – 22/1
Light Angel – 22/1
Maxi Boy – 28/1
King of Athens – 40/1
Makyon – 40/1
Golden Horde – 33/1
Coase – 40/1
Magnetic Sands – 66/1
Lord of the Lodge – 100/1
Kuwait Direction – 125/1
Ropey Guest – 500/1
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Racing ban
Silvestre De Sousa, who rode Beat The Bank in the first race, has been suspended for his use of the whip earlier today.
"Silvestre De Sousa, the rider of BEAT THE BANK, placed second, was suspended for 7 days and fined £1050 for using his whip above the permitted level inside the final 2 furlongs," confirmed the British Horse Racing Authority.
They're off!
Arrizona went off close to evens, Threat 4/1, Guildsman 6/1, Light Angel 17/2.
They break off into two groups early on. Threat is making ground with 2f to go.
Result
1. Arizona 15/8 f
2. Threat 4/1
3. Guildsman 6/1
4. Fort Myers 16/1
The first Aidan O'Brien win.
Arizona jockey Ryan Moore: "He's impressed me. He has a super attitude. He's still not sully switched on yet. He'll benefit when he sets up in trip."
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