An outstanding year for the master of Ballydoyle

Sam Turner assesses the powerful Aidan O'Brien juvenile squad

Churchill (striped cap) clinches top honours with Dewhurst victory over Lancaster Bomber (right)Credit: Edward Whitaker

What a year for Aidan O'Brien. Another champion juvenile and nearly a third of the two-year-olds in the 2016 European Thoroughbred Rankings.

The statistics make impressive reading, providing solid evidence that the master of Ballydoyle will have a large pool of three-year-old talent at his disposal this year.

Forty-seven juveniles have been awarded ratings of 110 or more in this year's rankings, a fraction below the ten-year average. Churchill leads the way, with the Dewhurst winner awarded 122 after winning his fifth consecutive race on the Rowley Mile in October.

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Published on 24 January 2017inIn Focus

Last updated 18:46, 26 January 2017

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