WITH two more days to go, the race for leading trainer is well and truly on. Aidan O’Brien leads by virtue of placed efforts, saddling two winners and no fewer than five who have been second. These latest wins bring to 57 the number of successes Aidan has had at Royal Ascot since Harbour Master gave him his first victory in 1997 in the Coventry Stakes. Sir Henry Cecil and Sir Michael Stoute lead the way with 75 wins apiece.

Aidan holds the lead after racing on Thursday ahead of Wesley Ward who has also saddled a pair of winners this year and brought his tally to nine at Royal Ascot. He started the ball rolling in 2009 with Strike The Tiger and Jealous Again. Before this year he also won with No Nay Never, Hootenanny, Acapulco, Undrafted and Lady Aurelia.