Five Irish-trained horses to follow at Royal Ascot

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien.

Race: Coventry Stakes (Tuesday).

General odds: 20-1.

Andab was weak in the market when he won his maiden on debut at The Curragh in  May. Actually, Dylan Browne McMonagle was due to ride his stable companion Substance, who was an 11th-hour scratching, but he was positive from early on aboard Andab who stretched away from his rivals impressively.  

The runner-up that day, Gavoo, enhanced the form when he won a maiden nicely at Listowel next time out.

Stepped up in grade last time for the Group Three GAIN Marble Hill Stakes, Andab moved up nicely to join the leader, Power Blue, as they raced to the furlong marker. Eventually, he couldn’t repel the late challenge of Albert Einstein, but time may prove that there was no disgrace in that.  

He was defeated a length and a half by Aidan O’Brien’s charge who would have been favourite for the Coventry had he not been ruled out of the race.  

The selection should improve again for that run and, a full-brother to Victoria Road, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf over a mile, he should appreciate the stiffer test that Ascot presents.

Trainer: David Marnane.

Race: Royal Hunt Cup (Wednesday) or Buckingham Palace Stakes (Thursday).

General odds: 33-1 (Royal Hunt Cup) and 20-1 (Buckingham Palace Stakes).

Tokenomics was seriously progressive for David Marnane last season, winning three of his last five races in 2024 and improved from a handicap rating of 75 to 90.

He continued his progression at Cork on his debut this season when he won a seven furlong handicap off a rating of 90.  He travelled like the winner from a fair way out that day, and showed a fine turn of foot when he got the gap, leaving the impression that he was winning with more in hand than the winning margin suggests.

The handicapper raised him 6lb for that success, and a mark of 96 would probably have seen him get into the Royal Hunt Cup nicely.  However, a subsequent across-the-board 2lb reduction in the ratings of the majority of Irish-trained horses leaves him on a rating of 94, which may not be high enough to see him get into Wednesday’s big handicap, a race that his trainer won with Settle For Bay in 2018.  

If he doesn't get into the Royal Hunt Cup, the Buckingham Palace over seven furlongs is a viable option, but he will be of interest wherever he goes.

Trainer: Stephen Thorne.

Race: Buckingham Palace Stakes (Thursday).

General odds: 12-1.

Fifth in the Irish Lincoln on his seasonal debut, Gleneagle Bay ran a big race in the Victoria Cup last time over the Buckingham Palace course and distance to finish third behind Hickory and Qirat.

Drawn high in the Victoria Cup, Stephen Thorne’s charge made up ground towards the near side, and he had to do a lot of running on his own on that side late on. He was beaten by a nose and a short head by two rivals who went toe-to-toe in the centre, and Gleneagle Bay might have done even better if he had been over there beside them.

A 3lb hike for that run was fair.  Recently acquired by Amo Racing, he should come on again for that outing which was his second run of the season and just the seventh of his life, plus first outing at Ascot.  

A fast-run seven furlongs suits him well, Ascot suits his hold-up style of racing, and it is significant that his astute rookie trainer nominated the Buckingham Palace as a next target for him very quickly after the Victoria Cup.

Trainer: Paddy Twomey.

Race: Ribblesdale Stakes (Thursday).

General odds: 4-1.

An impressive winner of a ten-furlong three-year-old fillies’ maiden at Leopardstown in April on debut, Catalina Delcarpio stepped forward from that last time when she finished second in the Group Three Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes at Navan.

Slowly into stride and back in the field early on at Navan, she travelled well into the home straight, but she didn’t have much racing room, and didn’t get into the clear until after the two-furlong marker.

She stayed on well once gaining daylight to finish a clear second behind Wemightakedlongway, who made all the running plus was able to lead at a moderate pace. That rival added ballast to the form when she finished fourth in the Betfred Oaks afterwards.

A half-sister to Grand Stars, a Listed race winner over ten furlongs, and out of a half-sister to High Heeled, winner of the Group Three St Simon Stakes over a mile and a half, Paddy Twomey’s filly should improve for that run, just the second of her career, and for the step up to a mile and a half.  

Trainer: Joseph Murphy.

Race: Coronation Stakes (Friday).

General odds: 25-1.

Cercene hasn’t scored since she won her maiden as a juvenile at Navan last year on her second outing, but she has been keeping good company this year.

A close-up third in the Leopardstown Guineas Trial over seven furlongs on her seasonal debut, when she finished off her race well after being short of room early in the home straight, Joseph Murphy’s filly was beaten just half a length behind Atsila in the Coolmore Stud Auguste Rodin Irish EBF Athasi Stakes next time out.

She then produced a career-best performance last time out when third in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas behind Lake Victoria.

She raced in mid-division at The Curragh, behind a sedate pace and, while she was never getting to Lake Victoria, she did well to get as close as she did to the runner-up, California Dreamer, who led from early.  

The selection did best of the fillies who didn’t race prominently, and a faster pace should suit her better. She could outrun chunky odds in the Coronation Stakes on Friday.