O’Brien: I’m on for Gold Cup glory

AIDAN O’BRIEN is optimistic about regaining his Gold Cup crown with Order Of St George at Royal Ascot today, having got on the board with a convincing win by Kew Gardens. Ireland’s champion trainer took until day two of the royal meeting to register a winner, but saddled the first three home in the Queen’s Vase yesterday. He is now eyeing up next weekend’s Irish Derby with Kew Gardens, who bounced back from a disappointing ninth in the Epsom Derby and has the St Leger as an end-of-season target. O’Brien’s attention will now turn to the showpiece of the week, the Gold Cup, in which he saddles the favourite and 2016 winner Order Of St George. The six-year-old came close to producing back-to-back wins in the race last year, only to be beaten by a short head by Big Orange in an epic thriller. He has won both starts this season and O’Brien said: ‘Everything is so far, so good. He was lovely in his first run, his second run. We have been happy with him.’ Commenting on last year’s agonising result, he said: ‘He’s a high quality horse. We are delighted to have him.’ O’Brien added: ‘We always thought Kew Gardens would stay, and he loves fast ground.’ He also said: ‘We can see how he is in the next few days because he can go back to the Irish Derby, then have a little break before the St Leger.’ O’Brien’s Duke of Cambridge Stakes favourite Hydrangea finished eighth, in a race won by the Marco Bottitrained Aljazzi.