Aidan O’Brien ‘fires shots’ at rivals as superstar horse is slashed for Epsom and the Arc after Ryan Moore masterclass

11 hours ago 17

PUNTERS said Aidan O’Brien had ‘fired shots’ at his rivals – as one of his many superstar horses saw his odds slashed for Epsom and the Arc after yet another Ryan Moore masterclass.

The jockey was labelled ‘best in the world’ by viewers after his perfectly-judged ride on Mount Kilimanjaro in the Dee Stakes at Chester on Thursday.

Jockey Ryan Moore riding Illinois wins The Ladbrokes Big-Value Ormonde Stakes.

Ryan Moore was again spectacular on Illinois at Chester – as his red-hot form continued for trainer Aidan O’Brien[/caption]

That came before another scintillating performance on Illinois in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes.

Sent off the 6-5 favourite, Moore got the two-time Group 2 winner to the front two furlongs from home in the 1m5f contest.

And it proved to be just the right time, with 7-1 runner-up Al Qareem for Karl Burke and Willie Mullins’ third-placed Absurde unable to close the gap.

Illinois, who is owned by Coolmore, has won four of his ten career races and picked up prize money of £712,635.

But it could have been so much more after he suffered two agonising Group 1 defeats in the St Leger and Grand Prix de Paris last season.

A year older, bigger and stronger, Illinois defied a penalty to win at Chester.

And bookies were immediately on the defensive about his next targets, cutting him for two major races.

Betfair moved quickly to slash Illinois’ odds in next month’s Coronation Cup at Epsom from 14-1 to 8-1 – before they cut him further to 5-1 second-fav behind Calandagan.

While his odds of success in October’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp were also cut from 40-1 to 25-1 with the same firm.

A lot will depend on who Moore chooses to ride in the big races.

The softly-spoken jockey doesn’t often miss when taking his pick of O’Brien’s Galacticos.

And punters have been blown away by his skill in the saddle on the Roodee this week.

One said: “Aidan and Ryan have hit the ground running this season. Warning shots, fired.”

Another posted in response to the ride on Illinois: “What a jockey – a master round there.”

While Paul Smith, son of owner Derrick, said: “That was very pleasing, he’s a lovely horse.

“Illinois is a big, fine, strong animal so he will improve for the run.

“Ryan was very happy with him. He was waiting for someone at the bend to take him there and they didn’t so he just had to go.

“He was just playing around in front at the end there but he’s a lovely horse. He’s very versatile.

“We’ve just been talking to Aidan and you could drop him back in trip for the Coronation Cup or you could step him up to Cup races.
“He’d do whatever you want for you. You can see what he did last year, he’s a proper horse.

“He’s a two-time Group 2 winner and carried the penalty today and did it really well. He’s a lovely horse to have, we’re lucky.”