Where did that week go? This year's Royal Ascot will live long in the memory but there are still a number of big stories waiting to be written. Here are five potential talking points ahead of the Saturday fixture at the royal meeting. Boudot Booking Catches The EyePierre-Charles Boudot has wasted little time since returning to the saddle and, after riding a trio of winners in France this week, has outstanding claims of tasting top-flight success once again when he gets the leg up aboard the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Comanche Brave (Wootton Bassett) in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. Comanche Brave has been ambitiously campaigned by his young maestro handler. After running fifth behind Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong, he bolted up in a Group 2 sprint at the Curragh last month. He has already come in for solid each-way support ahead of Saturday's feature contest and the booking of Boudot would appear to be a statement of intent. It would doubtless grab the headlines if Comanche Brave could cross the winning line in front under Boudot.Brian SheerinLast Chance Saloon For The FreshmenThere has been at least one first-crop sire winner at the royal meeting every year for the past decade. However, the freshmen are 0-16 across the six juvenile contests so far this week. The G2 Norfolk Stakes provides something of a last-chance saloon for the freshman class of 2023. Furthermore, Dubawi Legend's 125-1 Listed Windsor Castle third Harlequin Sky is the only first-season sire representative to have made the frame this week. There are six runners by first-season sires declared for the Norfolk, and they include Savage Mariner (Blackbeard), Ez Tina (Golden Pal), Underdog (Perfect Power), Persian Spring (Persian Force) and the TDN Rising Stars Fanshell Beach (Corniche) and Force Noir (Persian Force). The latter will also earn a 'Brucie Bonus' if he is able to lift the gloom in the Amo Racing camp.Tom FraryAmerican Contingent Can Provide More Colour The Americans were in town on Friday and they certainly made their presence felt when Wesley Ward's Bacio (Maclean's Music) bolted up in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse. That performance underpinned the importance of international competition at the royal meeting and came after Craig Bernick's Nola Soul (Justify) landed the Chesham Stakes on Thursday while fellow American-based owners Rancho Temescal were involved in the partnership that owns Friday's Sandringham scorer Green Carrera (Lope De Vega). Our American contingent can be expected to provide even more colour to the picture on Saturday with a host of big names represented, including effervescent US owner John Stewart, whose Goliath (Adlerflug) has obvious claims in the Hardwicke. Speaking on the eve of the race, Stewart joked, “My number one target is to win a race at Royal Ascot and if I win just one race then that's one less that Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore can win – I like to give MV [Magnier] a hard time so it would be great to win there!”Brian SheerinMullins Bids To Add To Excellent Record In The Queen AlexandraIt wouldn't be Royal Ascot without a winner for the jumps king Willie Mullins and, fittingly, for a man who is so dominant in bumpers, the legendary trainer is well-represented with three runners in the concluding Queen Alexandra Stakes. Mullins has won three of the past five runnings of the 2m5½f contest and Le Destrier (Le Havre), the mount of William Buick, would appear to be the number one chance according to the market. Columbus (Oasis Dream) and Mr Hollywood (Iquitos) completes the trio for Mullins, who also runs Breeders' Cup Turf hero Ethical Diamond (Awtaad) in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes. Brian SheerinDomination From The O'Briens To Generate More Plaudits Record-breaker Aidan O'Brien will almost certainly end the meeting as the leading trainer once again but that doesn't tell half the story as his son Joseph deserves massive credit for pushing him closest all week. Aidan heads into the final day of Royal Ascot with six wins and four seconds under his belt while Joseph has amassed five wins and three seconds. For context, their closest pursuers William Haggas and George Boughey are tied on three winners apiece. The leading jockeys standings is not nearly as close with Ryan Moore, who has made the extraordinary look ordinary all week, on six winners and four seconds and his nearest pursuer, Billy Loughnane, on three winners and two seconds. But the story of the week has to be Aidan and Joseph accounting for 11 of the 27 races that have been run so far this week. A massive performance from both men. Brian SheerinThe post Five Things To Look Out For At Royal Ascot On Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.