Aidan O'Brien saddles two in bid for staggering 22nd Beresford Stakes win

Saturday: 1.35 Curragh
Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes (Group 2) | 1m | 2yo | ITV4/RTV

Aidan O'Brien has dominated a lot of races all over the world but none more so that the Beresford Stakes. Victory in 2022 would see him added to the roll of honour for a staggering 22nd time and give him a 12th win in a row.

There are some household names on that roll of honour too as St Nicholas Abbey (2009), Capri (2016), Saxon Warrior (2017), Japan (2018) and Luxembourg (2021) all went on to win at the highest level after winning this.

It is a stepping-stone to stardom for some of the best middle-distance prospects in Ballydoyle, and this time around the responsibility rests on the shoulders of Adelaide River and the once-raced course maiden winner Continuous.

Eight favourites have won the Beresford in the last decade, including the last three in a row, and it would appear that Adelaide River will top the market.

The Australia colt, whose dam Could It Be Love was second to Alpha Centauri in the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 2018 at 33-1, made an impressive winning debut in an all-weather maiden at Dundalk last month and was quickly upped in class to the Group 3 Prix des Chenes at Longchamp.

He was mowed down late there under Ryan Moore, having kicked for home early in the straight, but was still a length in front of Galway maiden winner Pivotal Trigger, who renews rivalry.

He might not have to improve a great deal on that effort to win here and you would imagine there is plenty more in his locker.

Continuous, the other representative from Ballydoyle, made a very favourable impression when winning a 7f maiden at the track last month.

None of the first five home have ran since then so it is hard to get a gauge on what he achieved , but it is worth noting the seventh home – Intellotto – was only beaten a head in a Punchestown maiden next time.

He received an RPR of 96 for that performance and could be very smart, but jockey bookings would suggest Adelaide River is the number one from Ballydoyle.

Wayne Lordan has ridden 23 winners from 120 rides for O'Brien this year, whereas Derby-winning jockey Emmet McNamara, the mount of Continuous, has yet to ride a winner for his home stable in 2022 and has only had seven rides.

Joseph O'Brien has ridden the winner of the Beresford on three occasions, but he has yet to train the winner. He is double-handed with Bellewstown maiden winner Roaring Gallagher and the 98-rated Lakota Seven, who has 8lb to find with Adelaide Rover on official figures.

Roaring Gallagher did receive an RPR of 90 for winning at Bellewstown on debut and that form has been franked by the runner-up who won a Naas maiden comfortably next time.

Crypto Force went into the Chesham with a big reputation after beating the current Derby favourite Auguste Rodin in a 7f maiden at the Curragh back in June, but he could only finish seventh of 13 to Holloway Boy.

He's been off for 98 days since and it is far too soon to write him off, while it is interesting to see Colin Keane booked for the ride.

Adelaide River has the best form, the highest rating of those with an official mark and is proven with cut in the ground, so looks to be in the box seat to provide his trainer with an astonishing 22nd win in the race.

What they say

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Adelaide River and Continuous
Adelaide River ran well in France last time. He only won a maiden at Dundalk before that so it was a big step up for him. He's been in good form since then so it'll be interesting to see how he gets on. He's always been a lovely colt and one we've liked. Continuous won his maiden nicely at the the Curragh. It's different ground here and he has a furlong further to go but we think he's nice.

Colin Keane, rider of Crypto Force
I won his maiden on him earlier in the year. He's a nice big horse who I liked the day I rode him.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Lakota Seven and Roaring Gallagher
Lakota Seven has a nice bit of experience in stakes races and we hope he can run well again. Roaring Gallagher made a nice start to his career at Bellewstown when showing a good attitude to win his maiden and should go well.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Pivotal Trigger
He's a lovely colt who won well at Galway and then ran a big race in France against Adelaide River. He'll like the ground and the trip and I think he'll run a big race. He seems to be in great form.

Saturday's race previews:

1.50 Newmarket: Can Appleby's Royal Lodge luck change with classy juvenile Flying Honours?

2.25 Newmarket: 'She's as good as Tiggy Wiggy' - who will come out on top in the Cheveley Park?

3.00 Newmarket: 'There's more to come' - Marshman and Blackbeard face off in classy Middle Park

3.20 Curragh: 'She has a proper shout' - who wants to be a millionaire at the Curragh?

3.40 Newmarket: 'He'll run a big race' - trainers on their hopes for the Cambridgeshire

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