Is the master of Ballydoyle facing his toughest challenge yet in 2022?

Aidan OâBrien in good spirits during 1st lotBallydoyle, nr RosegreenPhoto: Patrick McCann/Racing Post28.03.2022

Aidan O'Brien: set for a key seasonCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

A Big Year For . . . is a four-part series exploring some likely major themes during the Flat season

A big year for Aidan O'Brien? Of course. For more than a quarter of a century every year has been a big year for the man John Magnier selected to follow in the footsteps of his father-in-law Vincent O'Brien at Ballydoyle.

In all those years O'Brien has sat at the pinnacle of his profession. In 2021 he was champion Flat trainer in Ireland for the 22nd consecutive season. He orchestrated a brilliant unbeaten three-year-old campaign for star colt St Mark's Basilica, who sets out on a stud career guaranteed a first-rate book of mares in two hemispheres.

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Alan SweetmanFeatures writer

Published on 23 April 2022inSeries

Last updated 16:42, 23 April 2022

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