O'Brien in fine form for Ascot

Aidan O'Brien will bid to land Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes with Risk Material

Aidan O'Brien will bid to land Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes with Risk Material. The Ballydoyle trainer confirmed the colt will run at Ascot and Walter Swinburn takes the ride.

Risk Material is one of the outsiders for Britain's all-aged, middle distance race but at least he will go there with his stable showing a welcome return to form.

O'Brien saddled a double at Naas last night and although Mempari did all that her 4 to 9 SP suggested she would by winning easily, the newcomer, Urban Ocean, exceeded expectations by taking the mile maiden in a close finish.

Mind you on breeding Urban Ocean did nothing exceptional. A son of the French Derby winner Bering and the Arc de Triomphe winner Urban Sea, he is bred to race in highest class but this rangy colt looks a type to improve significantly.

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"He's had a tough race and will have a break before being raised in class," said a spokesman for O'Brien after Urban Ocean had beaten the favourite Piranesi by a short head.

Mempari had just a neck to spare over Rashay in the five furlong maiden but Christy Roche was never overly stretched on the filly after taking it up at the two pole.

Lucan, Co Dublin trainer Norman Cassidy saddled An Bonnan Bui to win the handicap hurdle by an impressive six lengths despite the mare racing from 8lb out of the handicap. Tom Martin's mount overcame a mistake at the last to beat State Princess with the favourite Bolton Forest only third.

The champion lady rider, Charmaine O'Neill, had her ninth winner when Fade To Black took the bumper by a length and it was also a good result for her trainer-father, Ronald, who stands the winner's sire, Shahanndeh, a half brother to the Derby winner Shahrastani.

Peter Chapple-Hyam yesterday revealed that Victory Note could be set to return to action at Goodwood next week. He is eyeing a clash with Lend A Hand and Starborough in Wednesday's Group One Sussex Stakes for the French 2,000 Guineas winner.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column