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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Right, onto the next.
3:05 Coventry Stakes
Blue Point and Battash, first and second in this race last year, lead the betting 12 months on. Mabs Cross, who came third in 2018, always pushes front runners and there’s an unknown quantity in the field today.
Imprimis is making his British debut after impressive stateside. The speed and clock times that the five-year-old records is what makes this an interesting choice, winning his last race over five and a half furlongs in a time that would be competitive in this one over five.
Frankie Dettori taking a fancy to it is also a good sign.
Ascot 15:40 – King’s Stand Stakes
Battaash – 9/4
Blue Point – 5/2
Mabs Cross – 7/1
Imprimis – 9/1
Sergei Prokofiev – 14/1
Soldier’s Call – 20/1
Houtzen – 25/1
Equilateral – 25/1
Fairyland – 28/1
Signora Cabello – 80/1
Judicial – 100/1
Enzo’s Lad – 100/1
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What the trainers say
Battash, Charlie Hills: "We've been really pleased with him since Haydock. We've had no problems and the ground looks like it will be perfect
"I couldn't be happier with him, to be honest. He seems to be in a good place mentally and physically this year, and is really enjoying himself.
"We're looking forward to running him."
Blue Point, Charlie Appleby:
"Blue Point did nothing but thrive in Dubai over the winter, with the highlight being his victory in the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night
"We have always felt that the stiff five furlongs at Ascot is his best trip and he seems to bring his A-game to the course.
"It looks like it is going to be a great race and another strong renewal, but we are very happy with Blue Point.
"In an ideal world, the sounder the surface the better for Blue Point, but he has won on good to soft at Ascot in the past and should be fine on the forecast ground."
Mabs Cross, Michael Dods:
"Battaash was incredible at Haydock and if that horse turns up, then he is going to run a massive race. Blue Point has done well out in Dubai, probably at a lower level, but he couldn't have been more impressive, could he?
"It's a tough race and we are fully aware we are up against two very good horses in those pair, plus we don't know what this American horse (Imprimis) is like with Frankie (Dettori) on.
"Mabs Cross is well and I'm sure she will again perform well."
Battaash saddles well and Jim Crowley is on okay. That's normally a slight concern, so breathe a sigh of relief if you've backed him.
Winning reaction
Trainer Charlie Appleby: "He's one of the old warriors, it's a great team effort back at home. Battaash traveled extremely well and I thought we'd have to dig deep today. He's been close to us all and in my early years he was one of my best two year olds.
Jockey James Doyle: "It gives me immense satisfactions that i didn't mess it up. Charlie popped me on him two weeks ago to get to know him because he's a bit tricky."
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