Lambourn aiming to join list of Ballydoyle greats

South Wales Argus

a day ago

O'Brien has won the Curragh showpiece a record 16 times, including in the past two seasons with Auguste Rodin (2023) and Los Angeles (2024), and now Lambourn will bid to replicate his sire Australia by following up blue riband success from Epsom on home soil.
'He's a lovely horse and like Australia himself, an absolute gentleman,' said O'Brien.
'He has a great mind, stays well and is uncomplicated. He's a lovely horse to do anything with and he's just one of those very unique horses – he's scopey and classy and obviously we were delighted with him in Epsom.
Aidan O'Brien with Lambourn at Epsom (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)
'Wayne (Lordan) gave him a beautiful ride at Epsom and Ryan (Moore) rode him the same in Chester – he rode him forward. He won his races doing that last year and when you have a horse like that who is not held hostage to any other horse in the race or anything, he's just so straightforward.
'Australia was the only horse we ever had here with no fight or flight response and this horse is the same. When you put him in first gear he stays in first gear and second gear is the same and third, fourth up along.
'He's not influenced by any of his surroundings or any horse around him – he's a total independent thinker and those type of horses are really a pleasure to deal with.'
It was Joseph O'Brien who was aboard Lambourn's sire Australia for his father when he secured dual Derby honours in 2014 and he will now seek to win the race for a second time as a trainer with Epsom third Tennessee Stud after Latrobe's success in 2018.
Tennessee Stud leaving the parade ring at Epsom (Adam Morgan/PA)
'We were very proud of Tennessee Stud's run in Epsom. He got back a little bit early, but he came home very strong,' said O'Brien.
'The plan was to come back to the Curragh and his preparation has gone smoothly. We are excited about a rematch with Lambourn.
'I think Tennessee Stud is open to a lot of improvement. His first run of the year was off an extended lay off, he came forward a lot from that run in Epsom where he ran a career best and we'd love if he could run another career best in the Curragh.'
Ralph Beckett knows what it is like to win the Irish Derby following Epsom disappointment, having seen Westover gain Classic compensation on the Curragh in 2022, and will hope to see his Dante scorer Pride Of Arras bounce back after misfiring in his first shot at Classic glory.
Pride Of Arras remains unbeaten to win the @ABE_Dubai Dante Stakes at 18/1!
The Lion In Winter finishes sixth on his return at @yorkracecourse @RalphBeckett | @Rossaryan15 pic.twitter.com/RJQSCHsCGj
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 15, 2025
One of two in the race for Beckett alongside Cocked Hat runner-up Sir Dinadan, the Pride Of Arras team are firmly retaining belief in the talented son of New Bay and feel a trip to the Curragh could inspire a return to the sparkling form he showed previously at York.
'You would think Lambourn will try to do similar to what he did at Epsom, we've just got to try and see if we can get closer,' said Patrick Cooper, owners David and Vimy Aykroyd's racing manager.
'The Curragh is one of the great racecourses in the world and the track at the Curragh is as good as there is anywhere – it will suit everyone and there is no horse who isn't suited by the Curragh.
'When you have a good horse like this you have to enjoy it and he showed us how good he was in the Dante, so we're entitled to keep dreaming.'
Green Impact ahead of his Irish Derby challenge this weekend (Alan Magee/PA)
Also taking their second crack at Classic glory is Jessica Harrington's Green Impact, who bounced back from his sixth in the 2000 Guineas to take the Glencairn Stakes earlier this month, with connections now keen to explore a mile and a half with the son of Wootton Bassett.
Harrington said: 'At the time I was disappointed about the Guineas, but on reflection it wasn't a bad run and then he went on to win well at Leopardstown last time. After that it was a case of all roads lead to the Irish Derby.
'I think he'll stay. He's by Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo mare and is very laid back and relaxed. He's a big, long-striding horse and the Curragh should suit him.'