'I don't think it was too hard for Ryan to pick between the two' - can Aidan O'Brien land a record-extending 11th Coventry?

Juvenile races at Royal Ascot can be a minefield for punters and the Coventry highlighted the point last year when Rashabar’s 80-1 shock win was supplemented with fellow outsiders filling the places at 40-1 and 50-1.

Another upset this year seemed unlikely when Albert Einstein was trading at around 11-10 after winning the Marble Hill, but Aidan O’Brien ruled him out two weeks ago and the race now has a more open feel to it.

In typical O’Brien fashion, he has a couple of ready replacements in Gstaad and Warsaw. There isn’t a lot to split them on Racing Post Ratings, but the latter is tackling six furlongs for the first time while the former’s stamina is proven, having done all his best work late on to reel in an odds-on stablemate over this trip on his debut at Navan.

With untold improvement to come and Ryan Moore in the saddle, he could give O’Brien a record-extending 11th victory in this race. Albert Einstein was seemingly the yard’s principal hope, though, and the two who chased him home in the Marble Hill look overpriced.

Power Blue, who was beaten just three-quarters of a length, was an impressive winner of a race his trainer has used as a starting point for Bucanero Fuerte and Arizona Blaze, who were subsequently placed in the Coventry and Norfolk respectively, while Andab, who was reported by his trainer to have suffered a hold-up before the Group 3, will likely take a step forward. He travels strongly and won like a good horse over this trip on his debut.

The pick of the British is likely Postmodern, who looked an exciting prospect when bolting up by five lengths on his debut. He is the choice of James Doyle over the Archie Watson-trained Underwriter from Wathnan Racing, who were responsible for the second and third last year.

Military Code, who has course experience after giving weight and a beating to a couple of subsequent winners here last time, is one of many who could improve for stepping up in distance.
Race analysis by Harry Wilson

Pedigree pointers

Gstaad ticks several big boxes when it comes to having the sort of pedigree to win a Coventry Stakes.

His sire, the Royal Ascot-winning sprinter Starspangledbanner, is one of three stallions with runners this year to have had success in this race before, his victory going all the way back to 2014 and The Wow Signal from his first stint at Coolmore. Gstaad is also a half-brother to Vandeek, a brilliant juvenile winner of the Middle Park and Prix Morny two years ago.

Wootton Bassett, the in-vogue name behind River Tiber in 2023 and two French Classic winners of late, has two of the leading representatives in Military Code and Warsaw. Both have shown speed despite being bred to get a bit further. Dark Angel (Berkshire Shadow, 2021) has outsider Super Soldier.

Gstaad: runs in the Coventry Stakes for Aidan O'BrienCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Huge growth in the breeze-up sector has seen more ready-made products fare much better lately, with Goffs graduate Bradsell winning in 2022 and two more Doncaster signings, Electrolyte and Columnist, beaten a whisker by Rashabar 12 months ago. Wathnan's £200,000 buy Underwriter, a relative of sprinting ace Sole Power, is the candidate this time.

If there's another runner with an especially appealing profile, then it's American Gulf. He was bred by Robert Cornelius out of a mare who has produced an astonishing 13 winners from 14 runners, including last year's Prix Robert Papin scorer Arabie, Group-placed juvenile Master Of War and runaway Nell Gwyn winner Mammas Girl. This son of Ardad, who is a good source of precocity, looked as good as any of them on his debut at Windsor.
Tom Peacock, bloodstock writer

What they say

Oliver Cole, joint-trainer of American Gulf
We're taking a step into the unknown but he shows us a lot of class at home. We think he's a very good horse and Oisin Murphy is a plus. He goes there in brilliant form and we're excited about him. We like him a lot.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of AndabHe's in good shape. He's fit and well and the straight six at Ascot will suit him. We're hoping for a very good run from him.

Ollie Sangster, trainer of Bone Marra
He was very much learning on the job on his debut at Wolverhampton, so we expect a good level of improvement. The step up to six furlongs should help.

Brian Meehan, trainer of Bourbon Blues
He’s on an upward trajectory and he has size and scope. I think he’ll get further in time, which is what you want in a Coventry horse, and he’s a horse that I like a lot. He’s coming in off a Brighton maiden win but he did win by four and a half lengths.

Clive Cox, trainer of Coppull
He did nothing wrong first time out and we've always been keen to step him up to six furlongs. This is a big step up but we're very happy with him at home.

Ed Walker, trainer of Do Or Do Not
We'd have run if he'd won at York and he was only beaten narrowly, so we thought we'd roll the dice. He took a huge step from his first to his second run and if he takes a similar step he could run a nice race.

David Marnane, trainer of Gavoo
He's done nothing wrong. He has plenty of size and scope and a great temperament. He's laid-back, so we don’t quite know how good he is. He's secured a nice draw [21] and we think he's improved from Listowel.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Gstaad and Warsaw
I don't think it was too hard for Ryan [Moore] to pick between the two. He's on Gstaad and he's a colt we've liked for a long time. We thought he might be an Ascot juvenile all along, so that's why we ran him that day. We think he's very smart. Warsaw only won ten days ago at Navan and we haven't done much with him since. He's a nice colt too.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Military Code
His form is rock solid and we're looking forward to stepping him up to six furlongs. He's put up two strong performances, including one under a penalty, and should hopefully be very competitive at this level.

Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan Racing, owners of Postmodern and Underwriter
Postmodern has had the perfect prep since his impressive win at Yarmouth. Hamad Al Jehani and his team are very happy. He's a colt we're very excited about. It's an open race but there'll be no excuses. Underwriter has also had a perfectly smooth run-in. He was impressive at Ayr and this was always the plan after that. I think he'll run very well.

Power Blue (right) was only narrowly beaten by Albert Einstein in the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes at the CurraghCredit: Patrick McCann

Adrian Murray, trainer of Power Blue
He's on an upward curve the whole time and his run behind Albert Einstein last time was very good. He's one of our best chances of the week.

Adam Ryan, assistant to Kevin Ryan, trainer of Rock On Thunder
He won very well at Leicester and that form has worked out nicely. It's a big step up but he's shown he deserves to take his chance.

Karl Burke, trainer of Super Soldier
He'll improve for the extra furlong but he'll need to as it looks a very hot race. He's in great order.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Tricky Tel
I think he's a huge price. He's one of only two unbeaten horses in the field who have run more than once and the races he won produced the winner [Rashabar] and the third [Columnist] last year. I've been thrilled with him.
Reporting by James Stevens

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