A Monasterevin duo were among the record breaking 10 Irish winners at Royal Ascot this week

It was a highly successful week for the Irish at the races in Royal Ascot this week, even allowing for the poor performance of the fairytale horse that is Jet Setting. A total of 10 Irish winners dominated the field during the course of the festival, which beats the previous record of nine. As ever, it was Aidan O'Brien who was the chief contributor to the Irish success as he landed seven winners, though there was also some sizeable Kildare interest thrown into the mix too. Monasterevin trainer Jarlath Fahey landed his maiden win with his first runner at the meeting when Jennies Jewel made all the running under Ronan Whelan in the Ascot Stakes. It was also a first Royal Ascot winner for the 23-year-old rider who also hails from the south Kildare town. There was another Kildare trainer that got in on the act on day two of the festival, as Curragh based Michael Halford enjoyed his first ever victory on the prestigious English course when Portage, ridden by James Doyle, took the Royal Hunt Cup. Brian Kavanagh, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said, “To have ten Irish-trained winners at Royal Ascot is a great achievement. Aidan O'Brien has had an incredible week and I congratulate him on his personal tally of seven and also very well done to Jarlath Fahey, Michael Halford and Gordon Elliott on their first winners at the meeting. We can look forward to seeing a number of our Royal Ascot winners at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, at the Irish Oaks meeting at the Curragh next month and again at Longines Irish Champions Weekend in September.”