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Good Scent 4th Punchestown 3.30

Gardens Of Babylon Wins and Star Max unplaced Punchestown 1.55

Joseph has a new horse Rehoboth Beach & a new owner D. Hayden

Darasso 2nd Punchestown 1.20

Successor 4th Punchestown 12.50

Shady Operator Wins  & Alighting Fell Punchestown 12.15

Gardens Of Babylon Gives Joseph a double

Healy Racing Photos

31.12

J P McManus, Joseph O'Brien and Mark Walsh combined for a second win on the day at Punchestown with Gardens Of Babylon (7/1) in the Small Stakes Big Wins With Tote 3-y-o Maiden Hurdle.

This big field two miler was opened up with the departure of 13/8 favourite Fenta Des Obeaux at the first flight.

Plenty still held claims in the straight but twice raced Ballydoyle recruit Gardens Of Babylon quickened up smartly from the last to take the honours by half a length and three lengths from Surin (6s into 9/2) and Way Back Home (7s into 5s).

Surin is owned by Gigginstown House Stud and they also had the fourth and seventh, Lignou and Star Max.

“He did well to win because it was only his third run ever and I thought he'd probably come on a bit from it,” commented O'Brien on the winner, a son of Camelot.

“It was nice to see him go and do that. He jumped well. They went slow and got racing in front of him but he went and got them in fairness to him.

“There is a winners race in Fairyhouse and you also have the graded race at Leopardstown. We'll see.

“I thought he went to the line well. He hadn't run for a long time and he'd be entitled to come on for it.

“He had a few problems I think but he has ability.”

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Shady Operator gets up on the line

Healy Racing Photos

31.12

Shady Operator (11/4 into 7/4 favourite) got many punters off to a winning start in the Tote Supporting Irish Racing Beginners Chase at Punchestown.

Willie Mullins' pair Ballyward and C'est Jersey gave the J P McManus-owned and Joseph O'Brien-trained winner most to do but they eventually had to give best to the market-leader.

C'est Jersey stumbled on the run-in after being headed at the last and Shady Operator got there in time to 'short-head' Ballyward.

C'est Jersey ended up three and a half lengths back in third.

“He did well to win because he missed the last three and he had a bit of traffic as well,” said O'Brien.

“Mark was very happy with him and he jumped very well on the whole. It was his first time going the trip and I'd say he stays every yard of it.

“I'd say he'll step into a graded novice now, probably around that trip again.

“They are two decent horses that were second and third and he wasn't a bad horse over hurdles.”

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29.12

Meticulous 4th Leopardstown 3.40

Jack Dillinger PU  Vinnie The Hoddie 11th & Petit Tartare 4th  Leopardstown 3.05

Mortal 2nd Leopardstown 1.55 Grade1 Neville Hotels Novice Steeplechase

Grey Waters 5th Limerick 1pm

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28.12

Assemble 4th Limerick 3.50

Ash Hill Wins Leopardstown 3.35

Edwulf 8th Leopardstown 3pm Savills Steeplechase (Grade 1) 

Early Doors  2nd Leopardstown 1.50 Squared Financial Christmas H´dle (Grade 1)

Tower Bridge 3rd Leopardstown 1.20

Thermistocles 3rd High Sparrow 7th Plinth 8th Tigris River 18th Leopardstown 12.45

Write It Down 8th Leopardstown 12.10

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Ash Hill makes all to win his bumper 

Healy racing photos 

28.12

Ash Hill, the even-money favourite) made all under Derek O'Connor in the concluding bumper at Leopardstown.

The four-year-old gelding, owned by Ronnie Bartlett, asserted in the final furlong and a half and had the race won passing the furlong pole.

He kept on strongly to beat gambled-on The Blame Game (from as big as 25/1 in the morning to 6/1) by five and a half lengths.

Joseph O’Brien said: “He had a nice run first time out and Derek (O'Connor) gave him a good ride and kept things simple. It’s great to have my first winner for Mr Bartlett.

“Derek wanted to get him to do things right in Punchestown which he did and we were able to ride him a bit handier today.

We will probably stay to bumpers this year and we could come back here in February. He could probably do with the year and go novice hurdling next year but he’s a horse to look forward to.”

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27.12

Vieux Morvan 2nd & Arkwrisht 19th Leopardstown 3pm

Joseph has 2 new horses Gardens Of Babylon & Star Max

Wishmoor 8th & Landofhopeandglory 5th  Limerick 2.40

Ivanovich Gorbatov 14th Leopardstown 2.25

Triplicate 4th Leopardstown 1.50 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Slowmotion NR Leopardstown 3pm

Uisce Beatha 5th Leopardstown 12.40

Sir Erec Wins & Fightfortheroses 8th Leopardstown 12.10

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Smoking Gun gives Joseph a double

Limerick racecourse photos

27.12

Smoking Gun gave Joseph O'Brien an across-the-card double when getting up close home in Limerick's rated novice hurdle.

He drew alongside Veneziano Springs turning for home and held a narrow lead at the penultimate flight.

He didn't jump the last at all well, though, and landed on all fours as Veneziano Springs regained the initiative.

However, Shane Shortall got into the drive position and got his mount up by half a length.

Veneziano Springs was second at 5/1 with Ming Dynasty seven lengths further adrift at 6/1.

Jockey Shane Shortall said: “He jumped and travelled well. Myself and Puppy (Robert Power) stayed out wide and he was game down the straight.

“He jumped the second last well, completely made a hash of the last but rallied well and won nicely in the end.

“He’s an improving horse and has won two now. It’s tacky ground and you either go on it or you don’t and he showed good character to get back up after that mistake at the last.”

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Sir Erec wins on hurdles debut

Breandán Ó hUallacháin photo

27.12

Joseph O'Brien's Sir Erec got the better of Tiger Tap Tap at the end of an eventful three-year-old maiden hurdle in Leopardstown.

Some 28 horses went to post but four horses fell, one slipped up and one unseated rider.

The 11/10 favourite arrived at the last between Bachelor on his inner and Tiger Tap Tap on his outer but it became a two-horse race when Bachelor crashed out.

Sir Erec and Mark Walsh got away from the final flight that bit quicker than Tiger Tap Tap (5/2) but the latter refused to go away and battled along the run-in before going down by a neck.

There was an eight-length gap back to Nibiru in third at 33/1.

Joseph O'Brien said: “He was obviously a decent horse on the Flat and he jumped well. His jumping will come on a nice bit for that.

“I was a bit nervous before the race because there was a really strong word for the second.

“I'm delighted to see him do that and he was tough from the back of the last when he had to be.

“Every horse in the race would have done loads of jumping but there were four or five fallers.

“You can only do as much as you can at home and then they have to go and run. He had always schooled nicely so it's nice to see him go and win.

“The ground has been so good for so long that maybe a lot of horses didn't do as much schooling as they would have other years.

“He'll probably come back here next as that makes sense. He stays well and he'll have to come on from that.”

Sir Erec won at Listed level on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien and was also third in a Group Two at Ascot in October. This was his first crack at hurdles.

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26.12

Sempo 3rd Leopardstown 3.30

Le Richebourg Wins & Us And Them 2nd Leopardstown 2.20 Racing Post Novice Steeplechase (Grade 1)

Majurca Fell Limerick 2pm Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Steeplechase (Grade 1)

Aforementioned 9th 1.45  Leopardstown 

Filon D'oudairies 5th Leopardstown 1.10 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)

Inca Gold PU Limerick 12.50

Band Of Outlaws Wins and Fine Brunello 4th Limerick 12.20

Entoucas 2nd & Glen Of Aherlow 17th Leopardstown 12.10

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Le Richebourg becomes a Grade 1 winner over fences

Healy Racing Photos 

26.12

Le Richebourg got his Grade 1 reward over fences at the second attempt when leading home a 1-2 for trainer Joseph O’Brien in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Beaten only half a length by Delta Work in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse after being successful on his first two starts over the bigger obstacles, the JP McManus-owned six-year-old returned to winning ways in style.

Mark Walsh had Le Richebourg (3/1) close to the pace which his stablemate Us And Them helped make, while the 7/4 favourite Mengli Khan was held up towards the rear.

Though he tried to close, Mengli Khan did not have the pace to threaten and Le Richebourg shrugged aside Us And Them to score by four and a half lengths. Voix Du Reve was third, with Mengli Khan only fourth.

O’Brien said, “Mark gave him a lovely ride and he jumped very well. The last day he ran a cracker, but I think the tempo of a two-mile race probably suited him better.

“He was good over hurdles, but probably disappointed us slightly and since he’s gone over fences he’s been very good.

“The obvious thing to do would be to come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival. More than likely he’s an Arkle horse.”

He added, “Us And Them was always going to be better over fences than hurdles. He jumps fantastic and ran a cracker.”

Le Richebourg was given quotes of 12/1 by Betfair, 9/1 with Paddy Power and cut into 8/1 from 20/1 with Boylesports for the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham in March.

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Band Of Outlaws gets St Stephens day off to the perfect start

Healy Racing Photos

26.12

The Joseph O'Brien trained Band Of Outlaws improved on a poor round of jumping at Cork recently to win the opening Greenmount Equine Hospital 3YO Maiden Hurdle Limerick today, under jockey JJ Slevin.

The son of Fast Company managed to finish a fast-finishing third at Cork on hurdles debut on December 9 despite not jumping with any fluency and today jumped much better before quickening past leader Future Proof on the run-in, for a three part of a length win.

Afterwards jockey Slevin, a cousin of the winning trainer, stated “he has got his jumping together and jumped very well. He ran a great race at Cork the last day but didn't jump so well and he learned from that.

“He was a good horse on the flat and looks like he could be a good hurdler and he got through the ground well. He is a very classy horse and that's a bit help and hopefully he'll have a future in this game.”

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22.12

Ming 5th Group 1 Qatar Derby  Al Rayyan

Beautiful Citi 3rd Thurles 2pm Irish Stallion Farms EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) 

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21.12

The Game Of Life Wins & Ingelara 12th Dundalk 6.30

Crockford 2nd Holy Hymn 11th Dundalk 5.30

On Call, The Game Of Life, Chess Grand Master & Darasso all in new ownership

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The Game Of Life wins on debut despite a power failure

Healy Racing photos

21.12

The Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Maiden was subject to a 25-minute delay after floodlight failure but when power was restored newcomer The Game Of Life stormed home on debut for Joseph O'Brien.

He was second-last turning for home and was soon pushed along. The son of Oasis Dream was switched inside and ridden a furlong and a half out and made eye-catching headway to close at the furlong pole.

He really hit his stride to pick off the leaders inside the final 150 yards and galloped on strongly to prevail by two and three quarter lengths at 7/1.

Seamie Heffernan said: “He’s very well bred. Joseph said he thought he was a nice horse and he hadn’t overfaced him. He felt he’d improve from the run.

“I gave him a chance early on and he ran home strong. He’s very straightforward and the right man has him.”

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19.12

Joseph has a new horse Sir Erec, Dawn In The Park Has been sold & On The Mend is now with Niall Madden, 4 horses with Colours added

Pedisnap 6th & Shadow Seven 5th Dundalk 8pm

Far Reach 14th & Los Alamos 3rd Dundalk 7pm

Grandmaster Flash 2nd Dundalk 6.30

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18.12

Good Scent 5th Naas 3.35

Punches Cross Wins Naas 3.05

Song Of The Sky 8th Naas 2.05

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Punches Cross breaks his Maiden at the 10th Attempt 

Healy Racing Photos

18.12

Following on from At Your Ease half-an-hour earlier there was another J P McManus-owned victor of race six at Naas, Punches Cross (5s out to 7s) taking the Paddy Power "Live Stream All Irish Racing On Our App" Handicap Chase.

Arthur Moore and Barry Geraghty combined in the training and riding roles with At Your Ease, but it was Joseph O'Brien and Mark Walsh that teamed up with top-weight Punches Cross.

On his first foray in a handicap chase, the victorious Stowaway gelding was one of three battling it out from before the last.

Shedding his maiden tag at the tenth time of asking, Punches Cross was too strong for Well Tom and Jimmyjames on the run-in, crossing the line with three and a quarter lengths and a length in hand.

“He's a bit of a tricky fella and he's had 101 chances,” said O'Brien.

“In fairness to him he jumped well today. They went quick and the race was run to suit him.

“He's been disappointing in fairness but things just worked out for him today.

“They were coming back to him and he was sneaking away. The stiff finish probably suited him.

“He's not a fella I'd be trusting with my life but it's nice that he's after winning a race now.”

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16.12

Midnight Run 2nd Navan 3.10 'Future Champions' Flat Race (Listed) 

Denwork 3rd Navan 1.30

Plinth 15th Navan 1pm Tara Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Choungaya 5th & Rhinestone 4th Navan 12.30 Navan Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

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15.12

Gipsy Lee Rose 4th Fairyhouse 3.35

Young Turk 9th Fairyhouse 12.40

Paris Texas 4th Fairyhouse 12.05

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14.12

Ingelara 13th Dundalk 7pm

Colfer Me 2nd, Vhagar 3rd, Recovery Road 7th & Esprit De Lumiere 9th Dundalk 6.30

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13.12

Dawn In The Park sells for 15,000 Euro bought by Brian Grassick Bloodstock Goffs Ireland Sale

Ming & Tadgh O'Shea are entered in the Group 1 Qatar Derby 22.12

Joseph has a new 2 year old Easy Come Easy Go & 3 NH horses The Game Of Life, Fight For The  Roses, & Gipsy Lee Rose.

Boston Spray 6th Newcastle 2.55

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09.12

Embittered Wins & Touch Of Oscar 11th Punchestown 3.40

Treasure Chest PU Punchestown 3.05

Uisce Beatha 10th Punchestown 2.30

Alighting PU Cork 2.15 Kerry Group Irish EBF Mares Novice Steeplechase (Grade 3) 

Edwulf 5th Punchestown 2pm John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Steeplechase (Grade 1)

Ballyneety 5th Punchestown 12.20

Band Of Outlaws 3rd & Hawthorn PU Cork 12.05

11th - LATROBE - James McDonald

Latrobe 11th Sha Tin 6am Group 1 Hong Kong Vase

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Embittered gives Joseph another winner 

09.12

Embittered showed a nice attitude to take the last at Punchestown this afternoon, the Old House, Kill (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race.

Having unseated on debut in a point-to-point at Loughrea in May, the son of Fame And Glory since finished third Inch.

Making his debut for Joseph O'Brien today, the Gigginstown House Stud owned bay opened on-course at 11/2, before going off a 9/2 chance.

Settled towards rear by Tom Hamilton, he made progress into mid-division from four furlongs out, and came with his effort on the outer from early in the straight.

He was ridden to the front with just over a furlong left to race, keeping on well from there to score by two and a half lengths.

The 4/6 favourite Santana Plessis, who was briefly short of room turning into the straight, finished second under Jamie Codd for Gordon Elliott, while Cenotice (5/1) was another head back in third.

"He's a lovely horse. He picked up well, he'd had two runs in point-to-points before Joseph got him and he'd been working nicely so that was a great start," said Hamilton.

"He's a lovely horse going forward and he's only going to improve from that."

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08.12

Landofhopeandglory 10th & Wishmoor 13th Navan 2.45

Shady Operator 3rd Navan 2.10

Us An Them 2nd Navan 1.35 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Klairon Davis Novice Steeplechase (Grade 3)

Eviscerating 11th Navan 1.05

Little Light 7th Navan 12.30

City Hall 11th, Write It Down 12th & Glen Of Aherlow 24th Navan Noon

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Latrobe faces a race against time.

O8.12

Irish Derby winner Latrobe must pass a final vet inspection on Sunday morning if he is to run in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase later that day.

Joseph's runner, arrived in Hong Kong after a successful stay in Australia where he finished a head second in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes.

A routine pre race inspection conducted on Latrobe found him to be mildly lame on his left front leg with some sensitivity to both heel bulbs of his left front foot. He will be re examined tomorrow morning to assess his suitability to race. An update will be released at that time

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07.12

Pedisnap 4th Dundalk 9pm

Joe The Crow 14th Dundalk 8.30

Far Reach 6th Dundalk 8pm

King's Field Wins & Equitant 2nd Dundalk 7.30

Numerian & Jupiter Road NR. But I Like It 9th & Roger That 2nd Dundalk 6pm

Latrobe continued his preparation with some light work on the all-weather track . Joseph said: "I've just arrived but my assistant Mark (Power) has been very pleased with him all week, but I guess we've got to improve to win a race like this." HK Vase Sunday  

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King's Field gives Donnacha a win on his return

Healy racing Photos

07.12

Champion Jockey Donnacha O'Brien returned to action at Dundalk this evening when winning the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap on his brother trainer Joseph O'Brien's King's Field, on his second ride back from a 39 days break.

O'Brien finished up for the 2018 flat turf season at Galway races on October 29 with 111 winners, 12 of which came at the Co Louth venue, and today returned in fine style, finishing second in an earlier maiden on Roger That before winner King's Vow beat stablemate Equitant to lead home a 1-2 for trainer Joseph O'Brien.

Donnacha O'Brien later commented “he did it well. He broke a bit slow but they were going quick so I just took my time on him.

“He got a nice gap at the right time and he stuck it out well.”

When asked if he could be a horse for one of the fast-track qualifiers he added:- “it could suit him. He seems fairly effective on that surface and they'll go a gallop in England as well (in the finals). That could be a target.”

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Can Joseph continue his winning streak at Dundalk?

07.12

Healy Racing Photos

Joseph O’Brien's powerful team are in red hot form at present, and he looks the man to follow at Dundalk again this evening with a total of seven runners.

The 25-year-old Piltown trainer set a new record of 34 winners in a calendar year on the Polytrack with a treble here last Friday and will be hoping for something similar at the latest stage of the winter series.

O’Brien also has a couple of reserves on the programme, and this year’s Irish Derby winning handler launches a particularly strong bid for the featured www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap with King’s Field and Equitant.

This pair certainly will not lack for assistance from the saddle with champion jockey and the trainer’s brother Donnacha aboard King’s Field, and the leader amongst the apprentice brigade, Shane Crosse, will steer Equitant.

Equitant is going for a fourth win in a row, having started the sequence when with Richard Fahey at Chelmsford City in October. The handicapper is making it more difficult for the three-year-old but perhaps there is even more to come from the chestnut.

It is easy to forget that Joseph O’Brien only officially started training in 2016 and he began as he was to continue with four winners on his first day with runners.

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06.12

Camile Wins Leicester 3.20

Arthurian Fame has been gelded

Chateau Conti PU Clonmel 1.15

Smoking Gun Wins Clonmel 12.05

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Smoking Gun Gives Rachael another winner

Healy Racing Photos

06.12

Jockey’s championship leader Rachael Blackmore landed the opening Clonmel Maiden Hurdle on the Gigginstown House Stud-owned and Joseph O’Brien-trained Smoking Gun (6/4 out to 9/4 favourite).

It could have been different if runner-up Makka Pakka (6/1 into 7/2) had jumped better but Smoking Gun (off a 284 day break) was going away at the finish for a three length win.

Blackmore wasn’t long about pouncing on the Gold Well gelding along the stand’s rail from the back of the last and the principals were a length and three parts ahead of Getaday (7/2 from 9/2 on track and bigger earlier).

T J Nagle’s Getaday was ridden by Paul Townend, and the former champion is now two behind Blackmore at the head of the 2018/19 table.

"He was just starting to gallop for me and I thought if I got a good jump at the last he had a chance. He is a little bit backward and is learning all the time and should learn from that," said the winning rider.

"The step up in trip should help" and Joseph said the same thing to me this morning.

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05.12

Joseph has 4 new horses Write It Down, Little Light, Embittered & Hawthorn

Tattersalls UK Mares Sale

Lot 1674 High Language sells to Argamia Bloodstock for 11,500

Lot 1494 Anchovy Sold to Cambridge Stud for 75,000

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02.12

Assemble 4th Fairyhouse 3.40

Ivanovich Gorbatov 20th & Plinth 11th Fairyhouse 3.10

Early Doors 5th Fairyhouse 2.40 BARONERACING.COM Hatton's Grace Hurdle (Grade 1)

Oathkeeper Fell Fairyhouse 2.10

Le Richebourg 2nd Fairyhouse 1.35 BARONERACING.COM Drinmore Novice S´chase (Grade 1)

Triplicate  Fairyhouse 2nd 1.05 BARONERACING.COM Royal Bond Novice H´dle (Grade 1)

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01.12

Desir Du Large Wins Fairyhouse 3.40

Jack Dillinger Wins Fairyhouse 2.30

Lone Wolf Wins Anywayyoulookatit 15th & Glen Of Aherlow 14th Fairyhouse 1.55

Inca Gold NR Fairyhouse 2.30

All The Answers 4th Fairyhouse 1.25

Mortal Wins Fairyhouse 12.15

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Desir Du Large wins his bumper 

Healy Racing Photos

01.12

Joseph O'Brien continued his blistering form with a four-timer on the opening day of the Winter Festival at Fairyhouse that paid 714-1.

Desir Du Large (3-1) readily drew clear approaching the final furlong in the bumper and came home by five lengths in the hands of Tom Hamilton to put the seal on a terrific day for O'Brien.

The trainer said: “It turned into a messy race and the plan was to tuck in but he showed a nice turn of foot. I guess he’ll go jumping hurdles now and he seems to jump well.”

Valdieu (7/4f) was picked off by Desir Du Large in the final quarter of a mile and had no answers as he came in five lengths behind.

This was O'Brien's ninth winner in two days - he had two winners at Limerick yesterday afternoon and three in the evening fixture at Dundalk.

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Jack Dillinger is Joseph's 8th winner in 2 days

Healy Racing Photos

01.12

Joseph O'Brien continued his blistering form with a treble that paid almost 178/1 on the opening day of the Winter Festival at Fairyhouse.

Jack Dillinger brought up O'Brien's third winner on the card in the rated novice hurdle over two and a half miles.

The seven-year-old gelding made headway between horses two out and swept by Jack Fiasco approaching the last.

He wasn't fluent there but stormed home on the run-in to win by seven lengths at 4/1. Court Tycoon (11/2) came through for second in front of Jack Fiasco at 9/1.

Joseph O’Brien said: “He was fighting for his head a bit in Clonmel the last day but he settled great today. He’s a horse with a big engine when things fall right, and his form before was very good.

“I’m delighted for Stanley (Watson) and Michael (O’Flynn) and it’s the first horse I’ve had for them. He settled so well today that you could go any trip with him.

“The horses are running well. Everyone goes through phases were the horses are higher or lower, and at the moment we are in a good phase.”

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Lone Wolf gives Joseph a double 

Healy Racing Photos

01.12

Lone Wolf collared Defy De Mee on the run-in to take Fairyhouse's two and a quarter mile maiden hurdle with Mark Walsh in the plate.

Defy De Mee held a healthy six-length lead rounding the home turn with 6/5 favourite Column Of Fire and Lone Wolf chasing in second and third respectively.

Lone Wolf moved into second entering the straight and the 9/4 shot made relentless headway to close at the last. He always looked like he was going to catch Defy De Mee who gave best in the final 100 yards.

The easy-to-back 9/4 shot hit the line a length and a quarter to the good from the 14/1 runner-up.

Column Of Fire, who was very strong in the market, could make no impression on the front pair and had to settle for third, a further three and three quarter lengths away.

Joseph O'Brien, who was saddling a double, said: “He did well because it looked like Willie’s horse (Defy De Mee) had got away. He jumped well and Mark said he settled well for him.

“Sarah bought him as a store (for 33,000 euro). He’s a big, good-looking horse and he has an engine. He’ll jump a fence eventually, and hopefully he’ll make a nice hurdler as well.

“He’d have no problem going two and a half but I thought he showed pace from the third last up to the line. It’s hard to make up ground when something gets away from you like that. I was quite impressed with him.

“He’ll have to race somewhere between now and the Dublin Racing Festival, so he’ll probably go somewhere over Christmas. You don’t like going straight into good races but sometimes you have to.”

O'Brien also won the opening race on the card through Mortal.

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Mortal Just gets up on chase debut

Healy Racing Photos

01.12

Fairyhouse's Winter Festival got off to a sensational start as Mortal beat Any Second Now after a titanic struggle in the beginners' chase.

Mortal led turning in for this extended two mile five test as Any Second Now moved into a threatening position in second.

Any Second Now drew alongside his rival after the penultimate fence and the pair were locked together jumping the last.

Any Second Now took a narrow lead for Mark Walsh on the run-in but Mortal battle back gamely under Rachael Blackmore to get up by a neck in the closing stages.

The winner was returned at 10/1 having attracted plenty of support in the morning at 14/1. The runner-up went off 5/2 joint favourite. The leading protagonists drew 15 lengths clear of Cherokee Bill at 20/1.

Trainer Joseph O’Brien said: ‘He won very easy first time out and we loved him. He didn’t win his maiden hurdle, although I always pitched him in deep enough because we thought plenty of him.

“Chasing was always going to be his game and he jumped well and Rachael gave him a lovely ride. I didn’t think I had enough done with him to win first time but they didn’t go very quick and that probably helped. I’d say he has a big engine.

“He’s an exciting horse to go over a trip, and he’s bred to do the business. He’s probably a three-miler. The Grade 1 at Christmas would be a big ask but we’ll see how he is between now and then.”

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All The Answers could have the answers

Healy Racing Photos

01.12

All The Answers jumped notably well at Cork — which should stand him in good stead for a step up in class in today's Grade B EasyFix Handicap Steeplechase at Fairyhouse.

Joseph O’Brien’s seven-year-old took the honours by five lengths, on his first venture into handicap company, and that effort can be marked up because it was also his first appearance for almost a year.

A 9lb rise may not be enough to stop him following up this weekend.