3,860-1 five-timer! Aidan O'Brien dominates eight-race Navan card

Saturday: Navan

In what could be viewed as a sign of things to come this season, Aidan O’Brien swept the board at Navan on Saturday, winning the three key Listed trials and a couple of maidens to secure a memorable 3,860-1 five-timer on the afternoon.

Concert Hall was snipped into a best price 12-1 (from 16) with bet365 and Sky Bet for the Oaks after her triumph over Magical Lagoon in the Listed Salsabil Stakes, a win that was achieved with a bit more authority than the short-head margin might suggest.

A daughter of the 2012 Oaks winner Was, Concert Hall could bid to emulate her dam at Epsom, O’Brien revealed after the race.

He explained: “We're delighted with Concert Hall and Ryan [Moore, rider was happy]. She did well over the winter. She liked the trip and, as she goes further, she should get better. She did well to get through the gap and she has a little bit of class. She'll go for the Oaks next.”

O’Brien has won the Vintage Crop Stakes with some smart stayers down through the years, including the great Yeats, and Kyprios announced himself as a genuine Ascot Gold Cup contender in dishing out a comprehensive beating to his dual Irish St Leger-winning sister and fellow Moyglare Stud-owned Search For A Song.

Kyprios: a genuine Gold Cup contender at Royal Ascot?Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

“We always thought he was going to be very nice but he went to Ascot last year and jumped out under the stalls before the start,” O’Brien said of Kyprios, who was also ridden by Moore. “He hasn't run since then. He looks a stayer with a bit of class. He relaxes and quickens and has done well since last year. If he was going for the Ascot Gold Cup, he could run in the Saval Beg at Leopardstown, but we'll see.”

The Listed Committed Stakes looked a good trial for the Commonwealth Cup on paper and, despite being sent off the lesser fancied of the O’Brien-trained trio for the race, New York City, ridden by Wayne Lordan, produced a taking performance and hardened his Royal Ascot credentials in the process.

O’Brien said: ”New York City is a big powerful horse. We thought he would do plenty last year but he took until this year to win. He was very impressive again today.

“Wayne said he was still a bit babyish when he got there. When the second [Straight Answer] came at him for a second time, he picked up again, and that's what you like to see.”

O’Brien added: “He went on again in front. The plan will be to go to the Commonwealth Cup with him. Looking at him there, you would hope he would get six furlongs.”

Aesop’s Fables kick-started the afternoon by running out an impressive winner of the opening 5f maiden under Moore, highlighting his claims for Royal Ascot glory, while 12-1 chance Arbutus, ridden by Seamie Heffernan, sugar-coated the day with victory in the concluding three-year-old maiden.

Results, replays and analysis

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