Aidan O'Brien's achievements are truly extraordinary - we might never see his like again

I've been here before. Sat in the same chair, in front of the same blank screen, using the same keys, trying to come up with something different to say about him. It's all been said already but what else can you do but say it again. Call back again this time next year and we'll no doubt be saying it all over again. Words start to fail you. These achievements are just too huge.

Extraordinary is probably the word which sums Aidan O'Brien up best, because nothing he has been doing over the last few decades is ordinary.

You don't win the Oaks 11 times in 27 years, and you definitely don't win 11 Derbys' in 24 years. How is that even possible? It wasn't before he came along.

This was his third Derby on the trot and a fifth in seven years and he's winning the world's most famous Classic with all sorts of colts, who have had all sorts of different preparations.

Don't forget City Of Troy was down and out arriving at Epsom last year. He couldn't win the Derby on the back of what he did in the Guineas, but he did. Auguste Rodin couldn't win it either after his horror show at Newmarket but he did, too.

His two most recent winners of the Derby were speedy sorts, stepping up in trip but most comfortable over a mile and a quarter, as they went on to prove later in their careers. One was by Deep Impact, the other by Justify.

Wayne Lordan riding Lambourn wins the Betfred Derby

Lambourn: relentless Derby winnerCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty)

Now we have Lambourn, a sturdy stayer. A son of 2014 Derby hero Australia, who has never raced over any shorter than a mile, and looks as though he would gallop forever if you asked him to.

You still need some speed to win a Derby and Lambourn seemed to be in his comfort zone every step of the way here. He was an emphatic enough winner of the Chester Vase but he didn't scream Derby winner, did he? He must have to some, given he went off just 13-2 at the off.

Lambourn was primed for the big day. This was his Derby. Literally. Mentally and physically he was in peak condition for the day that mattered most and he absolutely bolted up. Can you recall a Derby that was over so early and as uneventful as this one? That was because Wayne Lordan took the race by the scruff of the neck after leaving the gates and never gave anyone else a look in.

It was smashing to see Lordan win a Derby. A softly-spoken gentleman who doesn't have a bad bone in his body. It's great when good things happen to good people.

But, back to the trainer. Remember the first weekend in May? Expanded finished ninth of 11 in the 2,000 Guineas and Lake Victoria trailed in sixth of ten in the 1,000 Guineas. It was a sea of blue in Newmarket as Godolphin stole the show. It seemed to set the tone for the rest of the season. How wrong we were.

Wayne Lordan after winning the Betfred Derby on Lambourn

Wayne Lordan: Derby winnerCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty)

From that point on it has been the Ballydoyle show. Almost every Derby and Oaks trial was mopped up by the Coolmore lads and they ended up going to Epsom with a seriously strong squad. All three Group 1s were swept up in scintillating style, despite the fact neither of the three winners were sent off favourite. That's some going. Extraordinary.

O'Brien will, of course, deflect all the praise onto his staff but the truth is that we are in the presence of greatness.

The Racing Post's long-time statistician John Randall might argue O'Brien has yet to train a truly great Flat horse, but even he will admit that the trainer himself is one of the all-time greats.

A genius. We might never see the like again. Appreciate him while he's here.

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