Kyprios starts out on ‘usual route’ to Royal Ascot at Navan

Kyprios, one of the most popular Flat horses of recent years, makes his seasonal return in the Bar One Racing Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan on Saturday.

It is the third time Aidan O’Brien has chosen the one-mile-six-furlong Listed heat as the comeback point for Kyprios, who is without doubt the pre-eminent stayer of his generation.

After picking up an injury in the stalls before the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot when three, he returned to win all six races at four, including the Gold Cup.

However, he missed almost all of the next year due to a serious injury and O’Brien repeatedly praises his staff for bringing him back to his brilliant best.

Two seconds on his return from that lay-off in the Irish Leger and the Long Distance Cup at Ascot set him up perfectly for last season when he won all seven races, including another Gold Cup among four Group Ones.

“Everyone loves Kyprios, he’s a great horse and we’ve been delighted with him at home,” said O’Brien.

“The plan is to run him at Navan and then take the usual route, on to Leopardstown for the Saval Beg and then hopefully Ascot.”

The long odds-on favourite faces seven rivals, with Willie McCreery’s Enfranchise closest to him in the betting.

Also on the card, O’Brien runs Whistlejacket and Ides Of March against Cowardofthecounty in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed Stakes, while Paddy Twomey’s Catalina Delcarpio looks to back up her impressive debut success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes.