Royal Ascot 2026: Joseph O'Brien stable tour

By Kevin Blake

Older Horses
Adelaide River

6 b g Australia – Could It Be Love

Rated 108, he was formerly trained by Aidan O’Brien for whom he finished second in the Irish Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris prior to moving to Australia and running well without winning in Group company. He joined O’Brien late last year and finished an eye-catching third to Minnie Hauk in the Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh on his first start for him.

“We were delighted with his first run for us in the Mooresbridge. We feel he has come forward since then and looks to retain plenty of ability. The Wolferton is always one of the strongest Listed races in Europe every year, so you go into it with your eyes open, but we feel he is a high-class horse that has the ability to be competitive.”

Aeronautic

5 b g Gleneagles – Meri Shika

Rated 97, he has been running well without winning in valuable handicaps.

“We will enter him in the Copper Horse Handicap and the Duke Of Edinburgh and we’ll make a decision closer to the time. He ran well in the Copper Horse last year when light on experience and has run some good races in valuable handicaps since. The intention was to come to this meeting fresh and he’ll love fast ground.”

Al Riffa

6 b h Wootton Bassett – Love On My Mind

Rated 120, he is a three-time Group 1 winner that won the Irish St Leger at the Curragh last year.

“He’ll be entered in the both the Hardwicke Stakes and the Gold Cup and we’ll make a call closer to the time. He ran very well in the Hardwicke last year and was unfortunate to bump into a world-class horse in Rebel’s Romance. He ran great in his latest start in France and looks to be as good as ever.”

A Piece of Heaven

8 b g Jukebox Jury – Activa

Rated 106, he returned to his best when winning the Chester Cup on his most recent start.

“He has been in great order since his win in the Chester Cup and we’ve been aiming him at the Queen Alexandra since then. We showed that an extreme stamina test suits him at Chester and he enjoys fast ground. He’s low mileage for a horse of his age and he might well be able to come forward again.”

Delta

4 ch g Kitten’s Joy – Simple Verse

Rated 92, he is lightly raced and made an encouraging return to action when fourth in a competitive handicap at the Curragh last time.

“He is an intended runner in the Ascot Stakes. We were delighted with his comeback run at the Curragh as he had a tough passage through the race and stuck on well considering. We think he’ll enjoy this marathon trip and fast ground. Oisin Murphy will ride and he will be one of a bunch of ours in that race that look to go there with a fighting chance.”

Emit

4 b g Too Darn Hot – Light Of Joy

Rated 104, he won the Marble City Stakes at Gowran Park in July and finished a close second in the Prix Chaudenay at ParisLongchamp in October. He has been running well without winning this season.

“He is a likely runner in the Duke Of Edinburgh. He will appreciate the drop in class and a well-run mile-and-a-half is something we’ve been keen to give him a go at for a while.”

Galen

5 ch g Gleneagles – Apache Storm

Rated 114, he won the Alleged Stakes at the Curragh last April and went on to run well in a successful of valuable contests, most notably when second in the Bahrain International and fourth in the Hong Kong Cup.

“We’ve been training him to come to the Wolferton Stakes fresh for the last few months. He ran a huge race in it last year under a penalty and doesn’t have a penalty this year. We’ve been very happy with his preparation and if he can run to the same level as he did in the race last year he’ll have another very good shot.”

Galileo Dame

5 ch m Galileo Gold – Two For Tea

Rated 94, she won a maiden hurdle ay February and most recently finished a close fourth in the Chester Cup.

“She is aiming for the Ascot Stakes. We were delighted with her run in the Chester Cup and coming here was an obvious next step after that. While she enjoys an ease in the ground, it was quite quick at Chester and she didn’t have any issues with it, so she looks to have another solid chance.”

Puturhandstogether

5 b g Caravaggio – Round Of Applause

Rated 92, he won both the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh last year. He most recently finished seventh in the Chester Cup.

“He is another aiming for the Ascot Stakes. He ran well from a very tough draw in the Chester Cup. He wouldn’t be sure to stay this far, but it is definitely worth a shot. His run at Chester suggests he can be competitive off his mark in a race like this.”

Three-Year-Olds
Andab

3 b g Saxon Warrior – Tickled Pink

Rated 103, he won the Star Appeal Stakes at Dundalk in October and has been running well in stakes company without winning since.

“We are looking at running him in the Jersey Stakes. He ran very well in what is likely to work out as a strong race at Sandown last time. He ran great at Ascot last year and a high-temp seven furlongs might just suit him.”

Atomic City

3 gr c Ghaiyyath – Pakora

Made it third-time lucky when winning a maiden at Cork in May.

“We are aiming him at the King George V Handicap. He’s going the right way, and we feel that fast ground will suit him well, as will having a fast pace to run at.”

Cannes

3 b c Sea The Stars – Celeste De La Mer

Made it third-time lucky in a maiden at Leopardstown in May.

“He is another one that is aiming for the King George V Handicap. He’s a lovely horse that is open to improvement and we feel he’ll be suited to this type of race.”

Enceladus

3 b c Sea The Stars – Martini Glass

Made it third-time lucky when winning a maiden at Cork in April.

“He is aiming for the King George V Handicap. We were very happy with his win at Cork last time and feel that there is good improvement in him. He has prepared well for this race and looks to be an interesting contender.”

Green Sense

3 b f Starman – Big Boned

Rated 102, she won the Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly prior to finishing third in the Pheonix Stakes at the Curragh last year.

“She has an engagement in the London Sale and we are looking to run her in the Jersey Stakes. She ran really well on her return to action in France last time and travelled particularly well. Coming back to this stiff seven furlongs might well suit her and she is a very interesting contender.”

Johanna Walsh

3 b f Sea The Stars – Miss Aiglonne

Rated 92, she made it third-time lucky when winning a maiden at Leopardstown in May.

“We are aiming her at the Ribblesdale Stakes. She was impressive when winning a maiden last time and the form has worked out well since. This is a big step up in class for her, but we’ve always liked her and feel it is worth a shot. She’ll enjoy this trip on faster ground.”

Limestone

3 b c New Bay – Modernstone

Rated 102, he has won three of his five starts including the Yeats Stakes at Navan in May.

“This a lovely horse that we like plenty. He runs in the Queen’s Vase and has had had a good preparation. We feel he will be a pacey horse at this sort of trip. We’d love a drop of rain for him, but it isn’t essential for his participation.”

Perisher

3 gr g Australia – Lynn Britt Cabin

Rated 91, he has won a maiden at Gowran Park and a rated race at Naas in his last two starts.

“We are aiming him at the Golden Gates Handicap. He’s been very good in his last two starts and the form looks solid. He’d be helped by a good draw, but he looks progressive and is open to more improvement.”

Two-Year-Olds
Green Empress

2 b f Saxon Warrior – Sea Empress

Made a promising debut when a never-nearer second to Sun Goddess in a fillies’ maiden at the Curragh in May.

“She has been bought by the Thoroughbred Racing Corporation since her very promising debut, and we are discussing her potential participation at the meeting with her new owners at present. She’ll have entries in the Windsor Castle and the Albany Stakes. She had been showing up very well at home before her debut and we feel she’ll learn a huge amount from her debut.”

One Number

2 b c Jack Christopher – Ghostinhim

Made a highly-promising debut when second to Celeron in a six-furlong maiden at the Curragh in June.

“He is a horse that we bought at the OBS March Sale in Florida. He was showing up well prior to his debut and he made a really promising debut at the Curragh. He will improve a lot from that and while it is asking a bit of him to go to Royal Ascot just over a fortnight later, we like him plenty. He will be entered in the Coventry and the Windsor Castle, and we’ll make a decision closer to the time.”

King Of Cloughan

2 b c St Mark’s Basilica – Mystic Eyes

Still a maiden after two races, but shaped with promise when a close second to Nola Soul in a maiden at Leopardstown in May.

“We are looking at the Windsor Castle Stakes with him. We feel he’ll enjoy coming back to six furlongs and there was plenty to like about his two runs to date.”

On Just Terms

2 b c Justify – Elitiste

An unraced colt from the immediate family of Alpha Centauri, he realised 220,000gns at the Craven Breeze Up Sale at Tattersalls in April.

“He’ll make his debut in the Chesham Stakes. That has been the intention since he was bought at the Craven Breeze Up Sale. He had a run in a barrier trial a few weeks ago and went really nicely after missing the kick quite badly. He’s have learned loads from that and can hopefully show up well.”

Ruler's Control

2 b c Territories – Reinette

Made a winning debut in the opening two-year-old maiden of the season for Jack Foley and since changed hands to join O’Brien.

“The Windsor Castle is the race we have in mind for him. He’s been training nicely and we’re happy with what we’ve seen from him so far.”

Star Prospect

2 b c Starman – Swiss Kiss

Made an impressive winning debut at the Curragh in April and was third in a winner’s race at Naas in May.

“We are aiming him at the Norfolk Stakes. We would be very forgiving of his latest run at Naas as they crawled early and it didn’t suit him at all. This type of race will play to his strengths, and it wouldn’t surprise if he improved plenty.”