THE extent to which the success for Irish-trained horses is based around Ballydoyle was put into focus by Aidan O’Brien’s domestic record in 2018, in a season his horses were below par for some time.

In his record-breaking 2017 season, he won seven of the 12 domestic Group 1s. British yards won four. This season we had 13 Group 1s, O’Brien won just two, British yards won seven.