31.01

West Coast Time 4th Down Royal 3.20

Highly Approved 2nd & High Susie 4th Chelmsford 2.25

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30.01

Rekindling stays for autumn



Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling has had his return home delayed so as to take in at least two more runs in Australia this autumn.

Rekindling's part-owner Lloyd Williams confirmed on Tuesday the horse will travel back to Ireland after the Sydney Cup in April - and that he may use March's $1.25 million Australian Cup to get there.

Williams entered his big guns for the Australian Cup, with his three best stayers heading the list of 53 nominations for the $1.5 million feature.

Entries for the trio of Flemington autumn features - the Australian Cup, Australian Guineas and Newmarket Handicap - were announced on Tuesday, with Williams' trio of Rekindling, Johannes Vermeer and Almandin headlining the nominations.

In a text sent on Tuesday, Williams confirmed Rekindling would return to Europe after the Sydney Cup, a race which Williams has won four times.

He said he would either run first-up in the Australian Cup at Flemington on March 10 or The BMW in Sydney before going second-up into the Sydney Cup.

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30.01

 Rekindling in Australian Cup for new trainer 


The Melbourne Cup quinella pairing of Rekindling and Johannes Vermeer headline nominations for the Australian Cup.

Entries for the March 10 Group One feature over 2000m at Flemington closed on Tuesday with 53 horses entered.

Rekindling won last year’s Melbourne Cup for Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien and remained in Australia to spell at owner Lloyd Williams’ property at Mount Macedon.

He has been entered for the Australian Cup under new trainer Liam Howley who also now trains Johannes Vermeer along with other nominations Alamndin, Aloft, Homesman and The Taj Mahal.

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28.01

Smoking Gun 4th Naas 4.20

Joseph has a new horse Song Of The Sky 

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26.01

Aibell 4th & Too Precious 5th Dundalk 7pm

Zaofu 7th Dundalk 6pm 

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25.01

2 Year old colt just named Good Answer

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24.01

Lot 224 Extremely & Lot 261 Remember The Days both withdrawn Tattersalls UK  Sale 2nd Feb. 

Joseph has 2 new 2 year old colts both unnamed

Joseph buys 1 lot at Goffs UK sale yesterday Lot 116 Chateau Conti

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23.01

The Future is bright for Hardback

Hardback (left) coming through to win at Leopardstown over Christmas
©Healy Racing Photos















Joseph O'Brien recently nominated the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Hardback as one that will contest some good handicap hurdles after his Leopardstown Christmas win.

A consistent type, the Morozov gelding was aided by a first-time tongue-tie and better ground when scoring at the Foxrock venue last month.

Bred at Blackhall Stud in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Hardback was according to those that started him off, "a nice type from the early days," and he is now beginning to fulfil his potential.

"My father (Andy) bred Hardback. He looks good and he was impressive enough at Leopardstown last time," said trainer Paul Pierce.

"He just didn't want to get beat. Things went wrong for him throughout the race - he got a bit caught in traffic and he missed the last a little bit, but he fought it out well on the run-in.

"He was sold from here as a three-year-old.

"We won three point-to-points with his half-brother Laser Hawk.

"Hardback wouldn't be massive. He went to Gordon Elliott first and he unseated at the last in a point-to-point when still in with a chance.

"He was on the sidelines for a while then. I could see him winning a decent hurdle - he's built for that game, even though his sire Morozov would be more associated with producing chasers.

"His pedigree would be chasing-orientated too, and Joseph has said that he'll jump a fence down the line."

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23.01.

Joseph's 5 lots sold at Goffs UK today:-

29 - Austellus (USA) by Lonhro (AUS) x Mama Lulu (USA) Sold for £800 to Rebecca Smith

 

30 - Glasses Up (USA) by English Channel (USA) x Hurricane Hallie (USA) sold for £2,000 to Mike Smith

 

31 - Paolo Veronese (USA) by Scat Daddy (USA) x Always A Star (IRE) Sold for £5,000 to Reda Tuhami

 

54 - French Mix (USA) by Dalakhani (IRE) x Alharmina (GB) Sold for £9,000 to West Buckland Bloodstock Ltd

 

55 - Spirit Power (GB) by Swiss Spirit (GB) x Verasina (USA) Sold for £10,500 to Eric Alston

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22.01

Joseph has two new horses Too Precious & Camile and 2 new owners N. Considine & K. Bennet

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22.01

Joseph’s possible team for the Dublin Festival



LEOPARDSTOWN Saturday, 3rd February 2018

(1:10) 21A Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice H'dle (Grade 1)

Thermistocles

Early Doors

Le Richebourg

Speak Easy

Tower Bridge

(2:55) 21D Sandyford H'cap S'chase (0-150) (Grade B)

Marlbrook

Landofhopeandglory

(4:05) 21F Coral H'dle (0-150) (Grade B)

Ivanovich Gorbatov

Tigris River

LEOPARDSTOWN Sunday, 4th February 2018

(12:40) 22A I.S.F. EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Hcp Hdle (Grade B)

Dawn In The Park

(1:15) 22B Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hdle (Grade1)

Grey Waters

(1:50) 22C Deloitte Novice H'dle (Grade 1)

Early Doors

Le Richebourg

Speak Easy

Tower Bridge

Us And Them

(3:35) 22F Unibet Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1)

Edwulf

(4:10) 22G Chanelle Pharma H'cap S'chase (Grade A)

Vieux Morvan

Tesseract

Landofhopeandglory

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21.01

Joseph has an new horse an unnamed 2 year old colt

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20.01

Mortal 2nd On The Mend PU & Play With The Wind 12th Navan 1pm

Pronounced PU Navan 12.25

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20.01

Barry Geraghty on Play The Wind

He said of the Joseph O'Brien-trained Play The Wind: "I don't know an awful lot about him, he has never run, but he is by Flemensfirth and he is out of a full-sister to Oscar Time, who won a Paddy Power Chase and a Beecher Chase and finished second in the Grand National.

"Joseph is happy with him and it will be interesting to see how he goes."

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19.01

Spirit Power 13th Dundalk 8.30 

Boragh Steps wins Dundalk 8pm

Zaofu 13th Dundalk 6.30

Uncle Henry wins Dundalk 5pm

Joseph has a new horse Edna 

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19.01

Boragh Steps gives Joseph a double 


White cap Wayne Lordan wins on Boragh Steps (nearside)















Joseph and Wayne Lordan both registered second Dundalk wins on the night, when combining for success with Boragh Steps  in the Bar One Racing Race.

O'Brien landed the opener with Uncle Henry, ridden by his brother Donnacha, whilst Lordan was victorious in the 6.30 event on Pat Martin's Adieux.

Here Boragh Steps (7/4) was very tough and game to get the better of favourite, Canford Art, by a neck.

"She's very genuine and she's been running well," reported Lordan.

"Every run has been a good run and I think the six was a plus today. She got headed and she battled back, she's tough and genuine and she wants to win.

"She's very straight-forward, she jumps and she travels. I think the six was a big help and she handles the surface which was great as well."

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19.01

Uncle Henry wins for the O'Brien brothers

Uncle Henry and Donnacha O'Brien are much too strong for the opposition










There was a good start for favourite backers on the polytrack tonight as Uncle Henry landed the opening Dundalk Business Club 2018 Maiden.

On the back of an encouraging third placing on debut in the middle of last month, Uncle Henry came forward nicely when upped here to a mile and a half.

Donnacha O'Brien riding this four-year-old for his brother Joseph, powered his mount through from over a furlong out for a three and a half length victory over Duke Of Waspington.

"He had a good run the first day and the step up to a mile-and-a-half suited him. He did it nicely," said the winning rider.

"They went nice and even and I had a grand trip through the race. When I gave him a squeeze he quickened up and galloped out to the line."

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19.01

Joseph has 2 lots at Tattersalls UK Feb. Sale 01.02-02.02

Lots:-

224 Extremely

261 Remember The Days

Joseph has 4 lots in the Goffs Ireland Feb. Sale 06.02-08.02

Lots:-

55 Coogee

56 Uncle Henry

57 Shenzi

71 Pronounced

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17.01

Joseph has a new 3 year old filly Dandy Royale

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16.01

Bachelor wins Kempton 6.10

Joseph has 2 horses from Tatersalls Ireland 2016 sales ready to debut On The Mend & Play With The Wind

Joseph has a new horse Lilmaurice and a new owner Brendan A Murphy

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16.01

Bachelor makes it 7th time lucky


Picture by David Betts

Bachelor was held up but was in touch, he was switched left and made headway 2 furlongs out, he was then ridden to chase the leaders over 1 furlong out, made a strong run inside the final furlong, he led near the finish going on to win by a neck

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16.01

Joseph sends 6 lots to Goffs UK Sale 23.01

Lots:-

29 Austellus

30 Glasses Up

31 Paolo Veronese

53 Zaofu

54 French Mix

55 Spirit Power

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14.01

Pronounced fell in the 1.30 at Fairyhouse

Alighting 3rd in the 1.00 Mares Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse a solid run

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13.01

Taste the Salt unplaced in the 3.40 at Lingfield 

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12.01

Palace Guard wins the 8.30 at Dundalk Paparazzi High Susie unplaced 

Irish Minister 4th in the 6.00 at Dundalk 

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12.01

Palace Guard off the mark at Dundalk


©Healy Racing Photos

Palace Guard made a winning handicap debut at Dundalk this evening as the four year old gelding landed the concluding E McGahon, McGuinness & Co. Handicap for trainer Joseph O'Brien and his brother Donnacha O'Brien.

The son of Shamardal was held up in mid-division before producing his effort to lead with a furlong to race. At the line,Palace Guard beat War Hero by three parts of a length.

Winning jockey Donnacha O'Brien later stated "that's his first run on the all-weather and he handled it well. He ran well in a few good maidens and has done it well tonight."


Quotes from Alan Magee

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11.01

Cut Em Down pulled up in the 2.10 at Clonmel

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07.01

Speak Easy 5th Naas 1.45

Border Control 2nd Naas 12.40

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06.01

Oathkeeper 6th Cork 2.30

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05.01

Zaofu wins Dundalk 7.30

Tagle 9th High Susie 10th & Ship Of Dreams wins Dundalk 6pm

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05.01

Zaofu gives Joseph a double

Zaofu gets the job done under Sean Corby










Zaofu brought up a double on the polytrack for Joseph O'Brien tonight when prevailing in the Follow @DundalkStadium On Twitter Maiden under Sean Corby.

This Arcadio gelding debuted in a bumper at Fairyhouse in March 2016 before being side-lined for 628 days.

He returned at Dundalk last month, and a third quick run in succession concluded with a length and a half success here.

The earlier O'Brien winner was Ship Of Dreams, with Wayne Lordan aboard, in the 6.00 contest.

"He had a long lay off, he hadn't run in two years, and I think the first two runs he was just coming on fitness wise," reflected Corby.

"Today he was spot on. He travelled very well and in fairness he picked up nicely. He has plenty of speed and he travelled very strongly throughout the race.

"Dropping back was never really going to be a problem because over a mile-and-a-half he can be a little keen. The drop back probably suited.

"He's a grand horse. He's progressing with every run and they should have plenty of fun with him."

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05.01

Ship Of Dreams a nice filly for the future

Ship Of Dreams comes home in front under Wayne Lordan
©Healy Racing Photos


















Three weeks on from a debut third placing Ship Of Dreams came forward to land the Dundalk Stadium Business Club 2018 Maiden (Plus 10 Race).

Back a furlong in trip, the Qatar Racing Limited-owned and Joseph O'Brien trained three-year-old proved two and three parts of a length and three lengths superior to Port Lions (9/10 favourite) and Havana Go (4/1 into 11/4).

Wayne Lordan did the steering on Ship Of Dreams and he said: "She's a very straight-forward filly and she stays well.

"Dropping back to seven probably wasn't ideal, because she's a filly that will stay, but it shows that she's versatile.

"The best part of her race was the last furlong. She'll be a nice filly going forward for the summer."

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04.01

Joseph’s opinion on the wind op debate



"I don't think it will make any difference, that's my opinion anyway. It's going to give people more information and if that's what they want then that's fine," Joseph told Independent.ie.

"I think an awful lot more was made of it than needed to be made of it.

"People think a horse has had a wind operation and he's going to improve a stone.

"I don't see a downside to it.

"You only hear about a wind op after a horse wins. You don't hear about the ones that don't win.

"I don't think it does any harm and it's a good thing that people are being a bit more open but really and truly it won't make a huge difference."

Joseph said he would not be put off using a broodmare who had went under the knife for a breathing operation.

"If she was good, she was good. It wouldn't make any difference to me," he added.


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04.01

Speak Easy to run at Naas on Sunday

Speak Easy (centre) makes a winning debut at Navan
©Healy Racing Photos

















Speak Easy will sidestep the 32Red Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday and run nearer to home in the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle at the County Kildare course on Sunday.

Trained by Joseph O'Brien, the five-year-old made an eyecatching hurdling debut when beating 20 rivals at Navan last month.

Speak Easy still holds an entry in the Tolworth but Frank Berry, racing manager for owner JP McManus, said: "He's going to Naas on Sunday. It looks a very hot race. Samcro might not be running but there are plenty of them in there."

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04.01

Motherland, Sebastiano Ricci and Watch Guard have all been gelded

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02.01

Joseph has a new horse Tagle and a new owner Mrs Georgiana Cabrero

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01.01

Thermistocles 3rd Fairyhouse 12.20