No pressure? “No pressure.” John Magnier may not always get it right but when in 1996 he gave Aidan O’Brien the keys to the Ballydoyle kingdom, he probably felt he was on a sure bet. “Aidan left school without formal education,” the head of Coolmore said years later. “He went picking strawberries, became a stable lad and worked his way up. He got to where he is by hard work and ability. It just goes to show you: it’s available to everybody.” According to O’Brien, there was no sense of overthinking what he had been offered in his mid-20s: essentially…
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