Stable Visit |
|
| Wednesday 7th November 2018 | |
Joseph O’Brien Stable Tour
By Harry Walter
A summer spent mopping up more major prizes on the Flat, including an Irish Derby with Latrobe and a Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket may suggest Joseph O’Brien is switching his attention away from the jumps, but a morning spent taking shelter from the wind at the trainer’s Owning Hill stables leaves you in little doubt that the winter war chest is up to scratch.
In his company is a sweet but scruffy little Irish Terrier by the name of Rua, too young to remember miracle horse Edwulf’s spine-tingling success in last season’s Irish Gold Cup, but old enough to keep pace with the busy 25-year-old, who is quick to respond when asked to name some of the jumpers he is most excited about this season.
Edwulf is set to represent O’Brien, who finished third in the National Hunt trainers’ championship last season, in all of the big staying chases this term, while the place is abuzz about the prospects of seeing Le Richebourg take on stronger opposition having made a flawless start to his chasing career.
Grade 1 novice hurdle winner Tower Bridge is another exciting horse who goes novice chasing alongside Speak Easy and Shady Operator, with O’Brien nominating his hand in that particular sphere as his strongest.
“We’ve a lovely bunch of horses to look forward to this season and I’d say we’ve our best bunch of novice chasers that we’ve ever had,” he said.
“There’s a lot of talented young horses here. Hopefully we can have another good season. Last season was brilliant but whether we can be third in the trainers’ championship again or not I’m not sure.”
Stable profile
Yard Owning Hill
Where Piltown, County Kilkenny
Started training 2016
Horses in yard 150
Members of staff 40
Head lad Faisal Hayat
Assistant trainers Mark Power
Secretaries Mark Hackett and Emma Dunning
Travelling Head Girls/Lads Jim O’Brien, Tina Evans, Paddy Doody and Damien Byrne
Jockeys Barry Geraghty, Mark Walsh, Jody McGarvey, JJ Slevin, Ryan Treacy and Shane Shortall
Amateurs Tom Hamilton and best available
Stable sponsor Al Basti Equiworld and Matchbook
Website/email joseph@carriganogracing.com
Twitter @JosephOBrien2
WINNERS IN IRELAND
2017-18 67
2016-17 38
PROFIT/LOSS TO A €1 STAKE
2017-18 -35.24
2016-17 -118.56
TOTAL PRIZE-MONEY 2017-18
€1,419,319
HORSES
Five-year-old gelding
Zanzibari (sire) – Parcelle De Sou (dam)
Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
Form figures: 30-
Racing Post Rating: 119h
He ran well in a maiden hurdle first time out last December before disappointing in a Punchestown bumper. He goes novice hurdling.
5g Getaway – Knocksouna Lady
Gigginstown House Stud
1-
RPR 125b
A nice horse. He’s not the easiest horse to train but he’s got a very big engine. I was surprised that he was good enough to win on debut at Leopardstown because of how green he was but he had been working well before the race. We’re looking forward to sending him over hurdles.
4g Galileo – Crystal Valkyrie
JP McManus
115
RPR 129h
He was a bit disappointing at Limerick last time. Whether he goes for a handicap or a novice race next, I’m not sure. He’s already done well for himself this term.
Listowel Wed 12 September 2018. Air Supremacy ridden by Mark Walsh, winner, at an early stage in The Ballygarry House Hotel Novice Hurdle Photo.carolinenorris.ie
8g Lavirco – Latitude
Gigginstown House Stud
F4076-
OR 137c, RPR 142c
He’ll come into consideration for all of those staying handicap chases. He was slightly unlucky when hampered at the last in the Irish Grand National, whether he’d have won if that hadn’t happened we’ll never know, but it was a good run from him. We’re hoping there’s a nice pot in him this season.
4g Getaway – Annaghbrack
Gigginstown House Stud
23-
RPR 39b
He’s a nice horse who came from Eddie Hales and he should be ready to start off in bumpers in about four to six weeks’ time.
Prospect: Ballyneety on his way to the gallops
Patrick McCann
5g Milan – Rock Me Gently
JP McManus
3-
RPR 112b
He ran well on his only start for us in a Leopardstown bumper won by Blackbow and he just had a little setback afterwards which is why he didn’t run again last season. He’s another novice hurdler we’re looking forward to.
3c Fast Company – Band Of Colour
J Carthy
Flat form -30274
It’ll be interesting to see what he can do as a juvenile hurdler. He’s a good consistent horse on the Flat and he handles soft ground well.
5g Doyen – Shampooed
Pat Tennyson
1P-2
RPR 117b
He’s back in full work but is a difficult horse to keep right. He won his bumper well and was second in a winners’ bumper at Limerick back in May. We’ll go jumping hurdles and he’s got a big engine if we can keep the wheels on.
4g Flemensfirth – Lunar Beauty
Annus Mirabilis Syndicate
2
RPR 111
Second on his only bumper start for us at Killarney, we’d be hoping he can win one.
5g Walk In The Park – Autorite
Gigginstown House Stud
73-231
RPR 123h
He won nicely at Tipperary last time and is a nice horse who goes to Navan for the Grade 2 For Auction Novice Hurdle and we’re hoping he’ll be a nice horse for the year ahead.
Choungaya (left) and Mark Walsh jumps the second last flight with Visioman when winning the 2m colts and geldings maiden hurdle. Tipperary. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post 08.10.2018
5g Soldier Of Fortune – Ymlaen
JP McManus
12930-
OR 142h, RPR 144h
Chasing is an option but we’re leaning towards keeping him over hurdles this season. I guess he looks the type of horse who could pick up a nice race over hurdles before we eventually go down the chasing route next season. He might even stay a bit further than 2m4f so we’ll go down the handicap and graded hurdle route and see where it takes us.
9g Kayf Tara – Valentines Lady
JP McManus
/P187-
OR 162c, RPR 169c
He looks great and I imagine he’ll chart a similar path to last year. It was great to get him back last season and he’s a lovely horse to have around the place. He’ll be ready to start back once we get rain. We’re looking forward to him.
Edwulf. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post 24.10.2018
6g Montjeu – Northern Gulch
JP McManus
0-0820
OR 140h, RPR 153h
We’ll stick to handicap hurdles with him now but he wouldn’t want deep winter ground. The Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham could be an option for him. There’s still a big pot in him somewhere but he needs things to go his way.
7g Westerner – Peppardstown
Michael O’Flynn & Stanley G Watson
080-92
OR 120h, RPR 131h
He was second on his only run for us at Gowran. He’s a nice horse with a big engine but he’s too keen for his own good and has to learn how to relax. I was disappointed to see him run freely the last day but it was still a big run from him. We need to get into his head.
Star quality
5g Network – Fee Magic
JP McManus
80-511
OR 140h, RPR 142h, RPR 148c
We’ve been delighted with how he’s taken to novice chasing, winning at Listowel before landing a Grade 3 at Tipperary last time in good style, and the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse is next up for him. We’re hoping that he’ll handle soft ground better over fences than he did over hurdles, but we’ll see how he gets on in the Drinmore before making any concrete plans. Leopardstown at Christmas is never really deep winter ground so he could go there after Fairyhouse. He’s an exciting horse to have and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do this season.
Tipperary Sun 7 October 2018. Le Richebourg ridden by Barry Geraghty, winner, at an early stage in The Like A Butterfly Novice Steeplechase photo: carolinenorris.ie
5g Gold Well – Luna Lovegood
JP McManus
3531-
RPR 118b, 121h
He ran well in a Listed hurdle at Punchestown before winning his bumper at the festival there last spring. He was very tough in scoring that day so he should stay well and he jumps well, too, so hopefully he’ll make up into a good novice this season.
4g Fame And Glory – Refinement
Michael Tabor
1
RPR 114b
He won nicely on his only run for us in a bumper at Killarney this summer. We’ll probably stick to bumpers this season and I think he’s a nice horse who’ll make a nice novice next year. He could even run on the Flat at some point.
4g Well Chosen – Knockamullen Girl
Annus Mirabilis Syndicate
1
RPR 108b
A full brother to Carefully Selected, he won well first time out for us at Galway and he may stick to bumpers this season, although hurdling is still an option – we haven’t made a definite decision. He’s a horse with a big engine.
6g King’s Theatre – Pomme Tiepy
Gigginstown House Stud
4F226-
OR 127h, RPR 137h
He’s got a rating in the high 120s but he’s actually still a maiden and we think he’s quite a nice horse. He goes novice chasing.
8g Oscar – Lady Lamb
JP McManus
-32023
OR 120c, RPR 125c
He kind of struggles in handicaps as he’s not the biggest in the world but there could be a nice one in him when he gets things right.
5g Kapgarde – Patrice De La Borie
JP McManus
232132
OR 117h, RPR 124h
A very consistent horse, he’ll jump a fence next year. He is what he is. We might get a bit of improvement out of him when we step him up in trip.
4g Heliostatic – Nuance Tartare
Martin O’Sullivan
7-142
OR 125h, RPR 124h
He won very well at Listowel and has run well on his two starts at Galway since where he’s shaped like a horse who’ll do well over a trip. There should be more to come from him when we step him up in distance.
5g Montjeu – Apticanti
JP McManus
2129-
RPR 140b
A horse we’re really looking forward to. He was a classy bumper horse last season and I’ve been happy with how his schooling has gone and I think he should get at least 2m4f over hurdles this season. He’ll be ready to start back as soon as we get a bit of rain.
Joseph O’Brien with Rhinestone. Owning. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post 24.10.2018
5g Court Cave – Native Artist
JP McManus
/2122-
OR 133h, RPR 132h
He goes novice chasing and he’s a horse we like a lot. He had a slight hold-up in the middle of the campaign last season – nothing too serious – and I was delighted with how he returned from a five-month absence to finish a narrow second at Punchestown. We were expecting him to run well that day but he was up with the pace throughout and it was nice to see him run as well as he did. He’s a fine big horse who looks as though he’ll stay 2m4f-plus and we’re hopeful that he can do well over fences.
6m Soldier Of Fortune – Second Emotion
JP McManus
36-46P
OR 141c, RPR 145c
She’s on a break at the moment but I think there’s still more to come from her and she’ll be aimed at staying handicap chases when she comes back in.
5g Beneficial – For Bill
JP McManus
/1532-
OR 137h, RPR 147h
He was unlucky not to win a Graded novice hurdle last season and he goes novice chasing this term. He likes soft ground and will start off once we get plenty of rain. He probably shapes more like a stayer, but we like him.
Dark horse
5g Oscar – River Finn
JP McManus
12P-
RPR 131b
He hasn’t had many runs but is one we like a lot. He’s more of a staying type, but I’d have no problem starting him off over two miles on soft ground. He can go up in trip as he goes up in grade and hopefully he has a nice future.
7g Montjeu – Hula Angel
JP McManus
P06-50
OR 143h, RPR 150h
He could go chasing, but it’s probably more likely that he’ll stick to hurdles and maybe we’ll try upping him in distance. He’s a bit behind some of the others so we haven’t put as much thought into his next target. We gave him a good break after Galway and I guess it will be at least Christmas time before we see him next.
Tigris River and Barry Geraghty winning the Guinness Galway Hurdle.Galway Festival. Photo: Patrick McCann 02.08.2017
5g High Chaparral – Walkamia
JP McManus
04153-
OR 143h, RPR 146h
A horse who provided me and my cousin JJ [Slevin] with our first Grade 1 win together over the jumps when he won the 2m6f novice hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown. We pitched him in at the deep end there because he had a very good run at Leopardstown over Christmas, where even though he was beaten, it was a messy race and Barry [Geraghty] was quite complimentary about him. We’re excited to see what he can do over a fence this season and he’s a stayer.
5g Galileo – Devoted To You
JP McManus
4-112
RPR 141h
He ran well at Tipperary the last day but he probably just wants softer ground. He’ll go for the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse and the softer the ground the better for him. We’ll probably step him up in trip after that, and I’d be quite hopeful about him.
Race in focus Every horse in the place would have a particular target but if I had to pick one, I guess Le Richebourg would be it, as the Drinmore Novice Chase is his big aim – that’d be the obvious one for me.
5g Yeats – Hataana
JP McManus
21-2P
OR 118h, RPR 117h
He won his maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse well and should make a nice staying novice chaser.
5g Stowaway – Manorville
Burnham Plastering & Dry Lining Limited
1120-4
OR 135h, RPR 141h
He made a nice start to his chasing career when fourth at Wexford on Monday. He jumps well and should have plenty to offer over fences.
Horse to follow
Rhinestone
If Rhinestone can scamper away from a horse like Sancta Simona, he simply has to be special and there were 19 lengths between the pair in a Thurles bumper last year. He might not have been man enough for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, but expect him to develop into one of Ireland’s leading novice hurdlers this season. He is an imposing individual with so much to offer over hurdles and the 33-1 about him winning the Ballymore makes plenty of appeal, even at this early stage of the season. He looks like he will want further than two miles to be at his best.
David Jennings
9g Voix Du Nord – Moskoville
M L Bloodstock Ltd
/52-8BP
OR 138c, RPR 143c
The Troytown at Navan is the aim. He was a little bit disappointing during the summer, but he’s a horse who wants softer ground. He could even go down the banks route at some stage this season. That could be an option for him as he ran in some of those types of races in France.
4g Vinnie Roe – Blackwater Babe
Five Guys & A Striker Syndicate
30-316
RPR 127h
He won very well at Gowran before disappointing a little at Galway on Sunday. He’s more of a chaser down the line but there could be a bit of fun to be had with him this winter over hurdles.
Vinnie The Hoddie and Mark Walsh wins the Connolly’s Red Mills EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle. Gowran Park. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post 06.10.2018
5g Presenting – Jamie’s Darling
JP McManus
2
RPR 103h
He could run in a bumper, but the plan is to go novice hurdling. He ran well on his debut and there should be plenty of fun to be had with him.
8g Winged Love – Presentingatdawn
Gigginstown House Stud
32411-
OR 132c, RPR 133c
He’s new to us and seems to be a good consistent horse and we’d be hoping to win a staying handicap chase with him.
7g Poliglote – Jasminette Doree
Gigginstown House Stud
23-451
RPR 130c
Not the easiest horse to train. He’ll probably go for a rated novice chase next and he looks as though he’ll be a staying handicap chaser.
New to RaceBets? Check out our offers here
