Family O’Brien rule the roost at Royal Ascot

With twelve winners between then at the just concluded Royal Ascot 2026, Aidan O’Brien and his older son Joseph saddled a remarkable total of twelve winners; Aidan bagging seven as he passed the stunning 100 Royal Ascot winners landmark, while Joseph saddled an impressive five winners of his own, writes Paul Alster.

There is nothing new in seeing Aidan O’Brien finish Royal Ascot as leading trainer. He is, by common consent, the greatest trainer of a thoroughbred racehorse of all-time, even surpassing his namesake and Ballydoyle predecessor, the legendary Vincent O’Brien. This time the super-modest, softly spoken Irishman, saddled Scandinavia to a pulsating, last-gasp success over Trawlerman in a Gold Cup that will live long in the memory, while also grabbing Group 1 glory with the impressive Precise in the Coronation Stakes, and with the flying Mission Central in the King Charles III Stakes on the opening day of the fixture.

O’Brien makes no secret of the thrill of seeing both his sons – Joseph and Donnacha – saddle big-race winners, and while Donnacha was out of luck in Berkshire this time, Joseph’s star continues to rise. His five winners at the most prestigious meeting in the world included Limestone in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase, while his victories in three of the hottest handicaps of the year demonstrated his talent at placing his horses to have the best possible chance and training them to the minute. The O’Brien dynasty looks set to run and run for decades to come.

A mention in despatches for another Irish trainer who had a terrific meeting with far less firepower. Fozzy Stack saddled two winners from just a handful of runners at the meeting, just getting the better of Joseph O’Brien when his Nola Soul won the listed Chesham Stakes, the opening event on day three, then sending out the flashy and very likeable Thesecretadversary (pictured below) to land the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at the expense of another leading Irish trainer Johnny Murtagh, whose Take Charge Star belied his odds to finish second.

William Haggas proved the most successful of the British-based trainers. He arrived at the meeting with his horses in cracking form and the winners kept flowing as he hit the target four times, including Earthshot in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes, and most notably the renaissance of Almeraq, who landed the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at odds of 25/1 on the final day, just getting the better of a pulsating finish with Japanese star Satono Reve and Australian flyer Joliestar.

Andrew Balding sent out three winners at what was another successful meeting for Kingsclere, while George Boughey confirmed his place at the top table of international trainers with his day one victory with his unbeaten 2000 Guineas winner Bow Echo ([pictured below, yellow colours) landing the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes, narrowly getting the better of the Irish 2000 Guineas winner, Aidan O’Brien’s Gstaad in a tremendous battle on day one. Boughey also hit the target with Moonfall in the Britannia Handicap, and Libertango in the Group 3 Albany Stakes.

Ryan Moore ended the meeting once again as top jockey with seven winners, his power-packed finishes on Scandinavia, Precise, and Illinois (in the Queen Alexandra Stakes) demonstrating just why he is the world’s best rider. Australian James McDonald had a great meeting too, riding three winners in the colours of the rising power Wathnan Racing, while Billy Loughnane also registered three wins (including Bow Echo) at a meeting that had it all.

As for the best races of the week, well Ombudsman’s romp in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes was a mighty performance for the Gosdens, and Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun was hugely impressive in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup sprint, but that battle between the veteran warrior Trawlerman and the eventual winner Scandinavia in Thursday’s Gold Cup really does take some beating, showing the very best of the thoroughbred species, allied to outstanding trainers and top jockeys striving for every ounce.

The Gold Cup summed up a truly memorable week at Royal Ascot 2026.

Paul Alster has broadcast and reported on the British racing industry for four decades as a commentator, journalist, TV and radio presenter, betting correspondent, SP Returner, tipster and form analyst, among other things.