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There is very strong Irish interest in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar racecourse in California this weekend with 18 Irish-trained runners representing six stables.

Aidan O’Brien, who will be crowned Champion Trainer in Ireland for the 28th time on Sunday, already has 25 Group 1 prizes in safe keeping this year, three short of the world record he set in 2017.

This Friday and Saturday at the Breeders’ Cup he fields eight runners in six Grade 1 contests.

Four of those are likely to start favourite or at least second pick in the betting: True Love (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint), Precise (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf), Gstaad (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf) and Minnie Hauk (Breeders’ Cup Turf).

Aidan has two other runners in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Brussels, Mission Central), while The Lion In Winter is in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and Bedtime Story runs in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

The Irish challenge in California is far from limited to Ballydoyle, even if the O’Brien name remains prominent as Aidan’s sons Joseph and Donnacha also have live chances.

Joseph saddles Queen Of Hawaii in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf and North Coast in the Juvenile Turf on Friday evening. Donnacha, meanwhile, prepares three runners: Havana Anna (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint), Balantina (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf) and Atsila (Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf).

Willie Mullins creates particular intrigue with his Royal Ascot and Ebor hero Ethical Diamond in the BC Turf on Saturday, while there is a powerful Irish representation in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on the same evening courtesy of three contenders, two from the Adrian Murray’s Westmeath stable (Arizona Blaze, Bucanero Fuerte) and one from Meath-based trainer Jack Davison via She’s Quality.

Adrian Murray also has Valiant Force declared for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint but the horse is ranked as first reserve at the time of going to press.