2016 Stats Jockey Wins
(Flat Jockeys)
Donnacha O'Brien - 13
Anastasia O'Brien -8
Michael Hussey -1
Seamie Heffernan -1
Wayne Lordan -1
Sara O'Brien -0
Shane Foley -0
Danny Sheehy -0
Connor King -0
Brian Hayes -0
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2016 Stats Jockey Wins
(NH Jockeys)
Mark Walsh - 9
Barry Geraghty -6
Jody McGarvey - 5
Mr J J Slevin - 2
Sara O'Brien - 1
B T O'Connell - 1
Ricky Doyle - 1
Mr T Hamilton -1
Patrick Mullins -0
Davy Russell - 0
M P Fogarty -0
Donagh Meyler -0
J M Moore -0
Mr K E Power - 0
Bryan J Cooper -0
Joseph's thoughts over the week
31.12.16
Ivanovich Gorbatov
I was delighted with Ivanovich Gorbatov’s run in Thursday’s Ryanair Hurdle at Leoparstown, he ran a real blinder.
I would say on ratings, it was at least to his mark, if not a couple of lbs better.
The plan for him is pretty simple, we’ll be sticking to the good two mile hurdles and pick up as much prize money as possible this season.
I must say, Petit Mouchoir looked good in that race. He jumped, went a good gallop and kept it up all the way. It was a huge performance and I don’t even think Bryan Cooper expected him to go that far clear. Very impressive.
Thistlecrack
Leopardstown was a great week’s racing and we got to see some Gold Cup contenders in the Lexus Chase but the one name that impressed me most ran on Monday, Thistlecrack.
He is the one they have to beat and you certainly wouldn’t be swapping him for anything at the minute.
He’s a very brave horse but that’s his style. If he was very brave but he didn’t have the scope that he has then you’d be worried but he has shown that he’s got all the scope in the world so he can afford to be brave.
I was asked recently if I’d like to ride him and the answer is obviously, yes I would love to ride him but he comes with plenty of pressure so I think I’ll leave that to Tom Scudamore and I’ll concentrate on the training!
3 Year Olds
This week was a good opportunity for some of the 3 year-olds in the yard and I think with a Grade 3 win and Grade 2 place, Landofhopeandglory is the best of them so far.
To be fair to Housesofparliament, he had been off the track for a while and that mistake three from home is not something I’m worried about. We have a long road to go and we have big targets for him.
Overall we were happy with how they ran over Christmas and we’re looking forward to the season ahead with both of them.
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29.12.16
Exactoris wins and Aspen Colorado 3rd Leopardstown 3.05
Ivanovich Gorbatov 3rd Leopardstown 2.30
Slowmotion 2nd Leopardstown 1.20
Katnap 8th Leopardstown 12.20
So Sorry Sarah 4th Limerick 12.05
Exactoris holds off First To BoogieJoseph teamed up with his cousin JJ Slevin as Exactoris ran out a game winner of the novice handicap hurdle at Leopardstown.
The 4/1 shot was to the fore throughout and repelled the challenge of First To Boogie, who came with his surge before the last flight. Exactoris battled gamely on the run-in to record a two-length win.
“He travelled and jumped and stays well. JJ gave him a great ride and I think that might be his 7lb gone,” said Joseph. "He’s a tough horse and stays well. He won two bumpers so he’s not a bad horse. He was good and long at the last but he needed it. I suppose in the end he pulled away and won well. We’ll see what is for him and he could go into novice company also. He’ll get three miles as well.”
Joseph's thoughts over the festive period
28.12.16
Thistlecrack was something else in the King George.
Obviously his jumping is so brave and he has so much scope he can pretty much take off wherever he wants. He has so much class and speed and you couldn’t be anything but hugely impressed with him. It was heart in mouth stuff in places where he took off two or three strides too early. He’s well able to do that though.
Landofhopeandglory v Bapaume
Landofhopeandglory ran a good race in the Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Monday, where he finished second. I suppose things worked out better for Bapaume this time than our fella but he still ran a good race. If things work out slightly better, I think we’ll be closer to him the next day. There’s plenty of racing left in the year and although we didn’t win and it was disappointing I’m sure we’ll get closer to him the next day.
Aeglos
It was good to get a winner on Stephen’s Day with Aeglos. He’s a nice horse and we’ve always thought a lot of him.
I don’t think we’ll see the best of him until he steps up in trips over hurdles. He’ll hopefully go for a win in bumpers or something, but he won’t be overrated this season and we look forward to more from him next year.Aeglos wins Leopardstown 3.30
Landofhopeandglory 2nd Lord Justice 8th and Zig Zag 4th at
Leopardstown 1.15
Felix Mendelssohn 6th Leopardstown 12.45
Imperial Way 4th and Outspoken 2nd Leopardstown 12.15
J
Joseph is keeping his fingers crossed Landofhopeandglory can continue his progression in the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The JP McManus-owned three-year-old is at the head of ante-post lists for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after having won each of his three starts over jumps.
With the owner's retained rider Barry Geraghty in action at Kempton on St Stephen's Day, Mark Walsh gets on board Landofhopeandglory, who completed a hat-trick in Grade Three company at Fairyhouse at the start of the month, for a second time.
Joseph said: "He seems in good form and we've been happy with him since the last day. He seems to be taking his races well and hopefully he'll run another good race. There's another nice race for him back at Leopardstown in February the Spring Juvenile Hurdle, but we'll see how he runs here and how he comes out of it."
The County Kilkenny-based trainer also saddles Lord Justice and Zig Zag, who finished second and third respectively in the Summit Juvenile Hurdle at Doncaster a fortnight ago.
"They've both been running good races and hopefully they can pick up a bit of prize-money again," Joseph added.
Landofhopeandglory once again takes on the Willie Mullins-trained Bapaume, who was beaten just a length into second at Fairyhouse on what was the latter's Irish debut.
Mullins' son and assistant, Patrick, said: "You would like to think Bapaume should be able to reverse the form, with normal improvement. It doesn't always work like that, obviously, but we think he'll improve from Fairyhouse and we're expecting a big run. Joseph's horse is the one to beat and the horse that sets the standard."
Gordon Elliott's Mega Fortune was third at Fairyhouse and renews rivalries with Landofhopeandglory and Bapaume
Udogo 2nd and Song of Love wins Dundalk 8pm
Thomas O'Malley 2nd Dundalk 6pm
Iskandar Prince 6th Dundalk 5.30pm
Eagle Spirit 4th Dundalk 5pm
NEW Horse A Year To Remember.
Wayne Lordan strikes on Song of Love
Jockey Wayne Lordan finished his year with a flourish at Dundalk this evening when completing a treble in the concluding Racing Returns Friday 6th Jan 2017 Handicap, on Song Of Love, which was his first winner, on his first ride, for trainer Joseph O’Brien
It was recently announced that Lordan was joining Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle all-conquering yard and today’s win was a timely success and brought up the Group 1 winning jcokey’s treble on the day.
Song Of Love was himself following up a course win n December 16 and today beat stablemate Udogo to lead home a 1-2 for trainer Joseph.
Following the race, Lordan stated “it’s been a good night. Joseph thought he had a good chance; he was dropping back in trip and he told me to take my time and that he enjoys coming through them.
“We went pretty quick so it suited him when they started dropping back. He quickened up well and did it well at the line. Obviously he’s after winning over a mile-and-a-half and he gets a mile-and-a-half.”
18.12.16
Marchese Marconi 4th Navan 2.25
Kalopsia 2nd and Along The Shore a non runner Thurles 2.10
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17.12.16
Arkwrisht 4th Fairyhouse 2.45
Valgor Du Ronceray 9th Fairyhouse 1.00
Let's Twist Again pulled up Fairyhouse 12.30
Ineffable 5th Fairyhouse 12.00
Joseph O'Brien Audio interview about Sundays runners at Thurles & Navan
Song Of Love wins, Way To My Heart 10th and Murmuring 13th 9pm Dundalk
Tommy Welsh 9th 6pm Dundalk
Duplication 2nd 5.30 Dundalk
Joseph and Donnacha O'Brien lost out in the opening race at Dundalk when Duplication went down by a neck. The brothers capped off the night with a success when Song Of Love led them home in the Fund Raising Made Easy At Dundalk Handicap.
Joseph also sent out Way To My Heart who was 10th and Murmuring 13th in the mile and a half contest
There was no living with 12/1 shot Song Of My Heart in the closing stages though, as he finished off sufficiently well to get the better of Zanjabeel by a neck.
"They went quick in front of me and the gaps opened when I wanted them to. It worked out well," said Donnacha O'Brien."It looked like an extra two furlongs would help him, last time, and it turned out that it did."
Aeglos 7th 3.40 Punchestown
Marchese Marconi 6th 2.35 Punchestown
So Sorry Sarah 5th 1.10 Cork
Tree of Knowledge 17th and Ineffable 6th 12.35 Cork
Kalopsia 2nd 12.25 Punchestown
Zig Zag 3rd & Lord Justice 2nd Doncaster 3.15
Edwulf unseated rider Naven 2.55
Along the shore fell Navan 12.35
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09.12.16.
No Biggie 13th and Walk The Line 4th 9.05 Dundalk
Redwood Boy 11th 7.35 Dundalk
Hyzenthlay 7th and Richard Strauss 4th 7.05 Dundalk
Detailed 4th, Grey Waters 11th and From a Distance NR 6.05 Dundalk
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07.12.16.
Song of Love 5th in the 9.00 at Dundalk decent performance just missed out on the placings should be very competitive off mark next time out
Pronounced 6th in 8.30 at Dundalk was held up in last place and got detached early on made progress late on but had too much to do
Thomas O'Malley a promising 2nd in 7.00 at Dundalk best work came late does not look too straight forward but more to come from him
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06.12.16.
NEW Joseph has a new horse and a new owner
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Barry Geraghty's thoughts on Landofhopeandglory and Ivanovich Gorbatov
06.12.16
"It was good to win the Grade 3 Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday on Landofhopeandglory . He did everything well, he travelled nicely, he jumped well and he showed a very good attitude from the final flight to get the better of Bapaume and Mega Fortune. He probably benefited from this step up in class. He had been impressive in winning his first two races over hurdles, but this was a better race and he stepped up to it well. It rode like a smart race, it was nice the way the front three pulled well clear of the rest of the field. From what you would ever know about juvenile hurdlers at this stage of the campaign, you’d have to be very happy with this. The first three could all be smart, they could all be contenders in the top juvenile races this season. "
" Ivanovich Gorbatov ran well in the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, It was another step up from him on his first two runs this season, he has progressed with each run, but he still falls between two stools a bit. He just falls short of what is required for these top hurdle races, and he is very high in the handicap."
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Landofhopeandglory going the right way.
06.12.16.
Joseph believes that the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Landofhopeandglory is "going the right way" following on from the three year old's victory in the Grade 3 Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
The son of High Chaparral, is as short as 6/1 with Paddy Power and as long as 8/1 with some firms to win the contest in March, defeated Bapaume by a length, with Joseph hoping the dual Grade 2 placed Flat performer can repeat the feat that was last done by the Dessie Hughes trained Our Conor, who won the Fairyhouse Grade 3 event before landing the Triumph hurdle by an impressive 15 lengths three years ago.
Joseph has yet to decide on a route for his Triumph hurdle hope, who may well run over the Christmas period.
Joseph said after the race: "Barry was happy with him and they sprinted down the last two up the straight which wouldn't have played to our horse's strengths but it was nice that he got away with it. There are still no decisions made about Christmas time. I haven't spoken to anyone yet, we'll see how he is during the week and that will be decided closer to the time. There's a long way to go between now and Cheltenham but this fella seems to be on the right track and hopefully he continue to progress with each race."
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Zig Zag and Lord Justice could run at Cheltenham on Saturday
06.12.16.
Joseph could field two runners at Cheltenham on Saturday after entering both Lord Justice and Zig Zag in the Class 2 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle.
Zig Zag was last seen when chasing home stablemate Landofhopeandglory at Punchestown last month, with that gelding having gone on to secure Grade Three glory at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
Lord Justice has won two of his three starts over hurdles to date, with the Zoffany gelding having finished only third at Down Royal last time.
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Joseph thoughts on the weekend from his Boylesports Column
05.12.16
Landofhopeandglory
It was a good day at Fairyhouse on Sunday starting off with Landofhopeandglory in the first.
He’s now three from three over hurdles. He won nicely and came through the race pretty well. Barry was happy with him and they sprinted down the last two up the straight which wouldn’t have played to our horse’s strengths but it was nice that he got away with it.
There are still no decisions made about Christmas time. I haven’t spoken to anyone yet, we’ll see how he is during the week and that will be decided closer to the time.
There’s a long way to go between now and Cheltenham but this fella seems to be on the right track and hopefully he’ll continue to progress in each race.
Big Ben, who had a good run the first time out over hurdles could be out soon again, perhaps over Christmas. Housesofparliament and Sword Fighter are both doing good but they’re just a little bit away from getting run at the moment. They’ve both done a nice bit of schooling so all in good time.
Ivanovich Gorbatov
Ivanovich Gorbatov travelled and jumped very well in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle yesterday. Between the last two, you’d have thought he was in with a shout but he ran a great race all the same. We’ll see what the ground is like everywhere over Christmas and I’d imagine we’ll send him out. It was a great battle between Apples Jade and Vroum Vroum Mag. They’re two great mares.
It was a great 1-2 for JP McManus in the Drinmore Novice Chase. The winner, Coney Island, never really looked like he wasn’t going to be in with a shout. Both Coney Island and second placed Anibale Flyer look like two very exciting horses for the future.
Airlie Beach
Meanwhile in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, Airlie Beach looked like a really tough mare. It obviously doesn’t do fillies like her any harm being a mother already especially when you see them coming back as good as she did.
She was the one that stood out for me over the weekend and I was absolutely delighted for Danny Mullins also. He’s riding very well and it was great to see him have a Grade One winner.
Likewise, I enjoyed the Tingle Creek on Saturday; a great race between Un De Sceaux and Sire De Grugy. Hopefully they’ll meet again over the course of the season and produce another race like they did at the weekend. Altior was also impressive at Sandown. He made one small mistake and was perhaps a little exuberant but overall he was great.
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04.12.16.
Imperial Way 2nd and Nemean Lion 4th 3.40 Fairyhouse
All the Answers fell 2.10 Fairyhouse
Ivanovich Gorbatov 4th 1.40 Fairyhouse
Landofhopeandglory wins 12.40 Fairyhouse giving Joseph his first Grade 3 winner.
Jamie is no longer doing our previews, we want to wish him well with 3 furlongs out and to thank him for the previews he has done in the past.
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3 out of 3 for Landofhopeandglory
04.12.16
Ruby Walsh looked like he might get the best of it from the front on Bapaume, when Landofhopeandglory 'missed' the second last.
However, Bapaume himself got the last wrong, at which point Landofhopeandglory was on terms and looking strong. Davy Russell was held from before that final flight on Mega Fortune.
The victor, owned by J P McManus and trained by Joseph O'Brien, is now three from three over hurdles as he went on here to oblige by a length.
Mega Fortune meanwhile, stayed on well up the run-in to be a length and a quarter back in third. In a good sign for the principals, they pulled twenty six lengths clear of the fourth home, Dakota Moirette.
"It was a good performance. They kind of sprinted down over the last two. He had to be right and Barry gave him a great ride. It was his biggest test so far," said Joseph. "We'd have to think about Christmas now. It will be one step at a time with him but you'd be delighted with today. The faster they go for him the better he'll be you'd imagine. I was delighted with that and Barry was delighted. He jumped better today, he was a bit more measured. Barry said he was a bit big at the first but other than that he was a bit better. Please god each race that is getting better.It looked a good race and there was plenty of word for Gordon's horse Mega Fortune. It's probably as good a three-year-old hurdle as has been run in Ireland anyway."
Asked to compare with Ivanovich Gorbatov Joseph reflected: "Ivanovich went to Christmas for his maiden while this lad is after having three runs. They are different models and it's hard to compare the two of them because they aren't similar types really."
On his three-year-old team Joseph explained: "It's important that they take to hurdling and this fella seems to have done that. We'll figure that out one by one I suppose. There is no panic with them. It is a long year. Please god there are a couple to come out at Christmas."
Paddy Power go 6/1 favourite from 10/1 about Landofhopeandglory for the Triumph Hurdle. Joseph O'Brien to win that event is 11/8 from 7/4.
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04.12.16
A good jump at the last helped JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Landofhopeandglory maintain his unbeaten jumping record in the Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The classy Flat performer had not been tested in his first two outings over timber and was sent off the even-money favourite to win again for Joseph O'Brien.
However, he had a real fight on his hands as the Willie Mullins-trained Bapaume had them all on the stretch.
It all came down to who jumped the final flight the best and while Ruby Walsh's mount landed on all fours, the High Chaparral gelding flew it under Barry Geraghty and went on to win by a length.
Geraghty said: "It rode like a decent race. It was a bit tactical and Ruby was trying to dictate from the front, which we were all aware of, but when you have the horse it's always much easier.
"He missed the second-last, but I made his mind up going to the last and he winged it.
"He's shaping up to be a Triumph Hurdle horse."
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Best of luck to Landofhopeandglory who bids to make it 3 from 3 over hurdles today
04.12.16.
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03.12.16
Exactoris 4th Fairyhouse 2.30
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A big test for Landofhopeandglory
03.12.16
Landofhopeandglory bids to cement his position as JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite in the Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
The High Chaparral gelding was formerly a smart stayer on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien, finishing fourth in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot and second in the Curragh Cup during the summer.
He was one of a number of O'Brien horses to be purchased by JP McManus for the switch to jumping under the eye of the trainer's son, Joseph, and is two from two so far over timber.
The latter said: "It will be by far the strongest race he's run in, that's for sure. From here on the races are only going to get tougher and tougher. We'll learn about him with each run as he learns about it, too.
"For me whatever the ground is won't be an issue, if it's nice ground that is obviously no problem. Saying that he handled soft ground well enough the last day, but he obviously handled good ground on the Flat, so the ground is no issue."
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Joseph doubles up with Jaqen H'ghar
02.12.16
Copyright Healy Racing Photos
Joseph O'Brien doubled his Dundalk score in the penultimate race on the polytrack tonight, as Jaqen H'Ghar got the best of an exciting tussle with Ancient Sands in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap.
Ana O'Brien, on Jaqen H'Ghar, got the better of Pat Smullen on Ancient Sands, by a neck. They left Venezia five and a half lengths back in third.
The earlier O'Brien winner was the Qatar Racing Limited-owned and Donnacha O'Brien-ridden Duplication
Joseph said: "He loves a strong pace and the race was set up for him. Ana gave him a great ride and he kept on really well. I'd not rule out going over hurdles but there are plenty of nice prizes to be won with him on the Flat. That was a nice pot to win, and I'm not sure where he'll go from here."
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Joseph trains his first winner for Qatar Racing
02.12.16
The Qatar Racing Limited-owned, and Joseph trained Duplication sharpened up appreciably for his debut effort a fortnight ago where he finished 8th to take the opening New Year's Eve Greyhound Racing At Dundalk Maiden (Plus 10 Race).
You wouldn't have expected that a drop to five furlongs would have been ideal for the Donnacha ridden Duplication.
However, we got a demonstration of the benefit of a run to a two-year-old and the Requinto colt was never far away on this occasion. A tail swisher he may be, but the 12/1 victor kept going well enough to hold the staying-on pair, Alfredo Arcano, and Slumming Angel, by a neck and a head.
Alfredo Arcano's cause certainly wasn't helped by the fact that he reared up leaving the stalls.
After training his first winner for Qatar, Joseph said: "He was very green the first day and came on a lot for the run.It's nice to have a winner in those colours, and he's the only one we have for them. There is a winners-of-one here in the next few weeks and that is an option."
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02.12.16
Jaqen H'ghar wins 8.30 Dundalk
Song of Love 9th 7.30 Dundalk
Apparition 4th 7pm Dundalk
Iskandar Prince 10th 6.30 Dundalk
Duplication wins 5.30 Dundalk
A look back at Joseph's first 6 months as a trainer.
Kalopsia came to the fore to land the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Mares Hurdle at Thurles. Even money favourite Miss Me Now pulled up before the second last after dropping out halfway.
The Mark Walsh-ridden Kalopsia, bred by Aidan and Annmarie O'Brien's Whisperview Trading Limited, is trained by their son Joseph, and is owned by J P McManus.
Kalopsia headed the pace-setting Monbeg Rose before the last on the way to an eleven length success.
"Mark gave her a great ride and left them at it and sneaked around. He said going out that he'd take his time and pick up the pieces and it worked perfectly. He gave her a peach," said Joseph. "She is getting the hang of jumping , she was a good bumper mare in fairness and has now won two hurdles. There is also a 1m4f maiden at Dundalk in a couple of weeks and might also be worth her chance in a Graded hurdle if the ground wasn't bottomless."
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