Joseph O'Brien Stable Tour 2018/19 with Kevin Blake
Air Supremacy
Form
Rated 85 on the Flat, he won his first two starts over hurdles prior to disappointing in a Listed novice hurdle at Limerick.
Trainer Says:
“I was delighted with his first two wins over hurdles and I thought he ran ok at Limerick last time. We’ll look for another novice hurdle or potentially a handicap for him next. He’ll keep going through the winter.”
Alighted
Form
Made an impressive winning debut in a bumper at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.
Trainer Says:
He won his only start in a bumper at Leopardstown last season. He had a little setback after that and we decided to give him plenty of time. He’ll go novice hurdling this season. We’ll start him off over two miles and feel our way with him from there.”
Ballyneety
Form
Made an encouraging debut when third to Blackbow in a bumper at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.
Trainer Says:
“He ran very well in his only run in a bumper for us last season. He picked up a little setback after that and we didn’t want to rush him back, that’s why he didn’t run again. He’ll go novice hurdling this season and we’ll start him off at two miles. He’s a nice horse and we are looking forward to him.”
Early Doors
Form
A 142-rated hurdler, he won a Grade 3 novice hurdle and was placed in a Grade 1 novice hurdle last season.
Trainer Says:
“More than likely we’ll keep him over hurdles this season. We’ll look at Graded and handicap hurdles for him and it wouldn’t surprise if he stays further than two-and-a-half miles. He’ll be ready to go in four to six weeks.”
Edwulf
Form
A 162-rated chaser, he came back from almost dying at the Cheltenham Festival in 2017 to win the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February.
Trainer Says:
“He’s in good shape and looks brilliant. We haven’t set out specific targets for him yet, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he ended up going down a similar road with him as we did last season.”
Housesofparliament
Form
A 138-rated hurdler, he successfully stepped up in trip when winning a three-mile handicap hurdle at Gowran Park in June.
Trainer Says:
“He had a break since his last run. He won’t ever want the ground to be too soft, so we’ll pick our spots with him as best we can. He has seemed suited by stepping up to three miles and that trip on decent ground are probably his optimum conditions.”
Ivanovich Gorbatov
Form
A 140-rated hurdler, he won the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2016 and has been running well without winning in handicap company of late.
Trainer Says:
“He ran very well in a handicap hurdle at Killarney and the ground was just too soft for him at Listowel. He’ll go where we can get the best ground for him and we’ll probably keep him to handicap company.”
Le Richebourg
Form
A 140-rated hurdler, he is unbeaten in two starts over fences including a Grade 3 novice chase at Tipperary in October.
Trainer Says:
“He won very nicely at Tipperary last time and we are aiming him at the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse. Barry Geraghty was very complimentary of his jumping, so hopefully he can go higher over fences than did over hurdles. He showed his best form on better ground over hurdles, but hopefully he can handle softer ground a little bit better over fences.”
Lone Wolf
Form
The winner of a bumper at the Punchestown Festival, he had previously shaped well on his hurdling debut in a Listed novice hurdle at Punchestown.
Trainer Says:
“He is a nice horse. He ran a promising race on his hurdling debut at Punchestown before going back to bumpers and winning at the Punchestown Festival. He’ll go back hurdling this season and we’ll start him off over two miles.”
Midnight Run
Form
A full-brother to the smart bumper performer Carefully Selected, he made a winning debut in a bumper at Galway in October.
Trainer Says:
“He won a bumper at Galway in good style. He has the option of going over hurdles now, but we might just stick to bumpers with him for the time being, as he’s only a four-year-old and he could do with a bit of time under him.”
Rhinestone
Form
Won a bumper at Thurles in December and went on to finish second to Blackbow in a Grade 2 bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.
Trainer Says:
“He was a very good bumper horse last season and the plan is to go novice hurdling with him. I think he should stay at least two-and-a-half miles and he’ll be ready to start off once we get a bit of rain. He’s one you’d be looking forward to.”
Shady Operator
Form
A 133-rated hurdler, he returned from five months off to be touched off in a novice hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.
Trainer Says:
“He’s a nice horse that had a good novice hurdle campaign last season despite getting a setback in the middle of it. He’ll go novice chasing this season. He likes an ease in the ground and he should definitely stay at least two-and-a-half miles. He’s a fine big horse, 16-3hh, and he schools well, so you’d hope he can do well over fences.”
Speak Easy
Form
A 137-rated hurdler, he made an impressive winning hurdling debut at Navan in December and ran well without winning thereafter.
Trainer Says:
“He is likely to go novice chasing this season. I thought he was a bit unlucky in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Naas in February and he’s probably better than he showed last season. He’s a fine big horse that has always looked like a chaser, so we are looking forward to him.”
The Gunner Murphy
Form
Made a winning debut in a bumper at Galway in October and went on to finish second in a winner’s bumper at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.
Trainer Says:
“The plan is to go novice hurdling with him this season. He was good horse in bumpers and we are looking forward to him. We’ll start him off around two miles, but he should stay a bit further in time.”
Tigris River
Form
A 143-rated hurdler, he produced a career-best effort when winning the Galway Hurdle in 2017 and has been mostly below form since then.
Trainer Says:
“He had a break after Galway but is back on the go now. He could stay hurdling or he could potentially go novice chasing, but we haven’t made a decision on him yet.”
Tower Bridge
Form
A 143-rated hurdler, he won a Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown and went on to acquit himself well at the Cheltenham Festival and the Aintree Grand National meeting.
Trainer Says:
“He will go novice chasing this season. He won a Grade 1 novice hurdle and is a big horse that jumps fences well at home, so we are looking forward to him. Two-and-a-half miles to three miles will be his range.”
Triplicate
Form
Rated 101 on the Flat, he has won two of his four starts over hurdles and most recently finished second in a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Tipperary in October.
Trainer Says:
“I was delighted with his first two wins over hurdles, but I was a little bit disappointed to see him beaten at Tipperary, for all that he ran a good race in defeat. We’ll aim him towards the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse now. The softer the ground, the better it will suit him. He’ll stay further than two miles.”
Us And Them
Form
A 135-rated hurdler, he won two of his four starts over hurdles last season and was placed in Grade 3 novice hurdle company.
Trainer Says:
“He’ll go novice chasing. We declared him to make his chasing debut at Punchestown during the week, but the ground was just a bit too quick, so we took him out. We’ll start him off once we get some rain. His schooling has been very good, so hopefully he can transfer that to the track.”
Vieux Morvan
Form
A 138-rated chaser, he finished second in the valuable Chanelle Pharma Handicap Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.
Trainer Says:
“He’s been a little bit disappointing in recent starts, but we’ll keep going with him in those good handicaps. We’ll change a few things with him at home and can hopefully get him back on track. He potentially could be one to run over the Grand National fences at Aintree at some stage."
Joseph showing Latrobe the 2018 Melbourne Cup
Healy racing pictures
Joseph & Kevin examining the lots at Goffs UK yearling sale 27.08.18
Joseph taking home the Dundalk Winter Series Champion trainer 2017/2018 at The Champions Dinner.
Joseph's Stable Tour NH 2017/18
Joseph O’Brien’s fledgling training career is firmly in the ascendancy and here he runs the rule over his team of young and progressive National Hunt horses which could continue his upward curve in 2017/18.
Joseph sat down with attheraces.com’s Kevin Blake to discuss his National Hunt team for the upcoming season.
Apparition -Form Profile:
Rated 89 on the Flat, he made an encouraging hurdling debut when third in a winners-of-two juvenile hurdle at Gowran Park in September and built on that when winning a maiden hurdle at Thurles in October.
Trainer Says:
He did well to win a maiden hurdle at Thurles the other day. His jumping was good early on, but he didn’t jump the last three hurdles perfectly, so he had to work hard and show a good attitude to get up and win by a nose. The winners-of-two juvenile hurdle at Down Royal on November 4th will be his next target and hopefully it will be on to the Grade 3 juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse on December 3rd after that. He’ll definitely handle soft ground and I’d be hopeful he’ll be OK on proper winter ground if he ever meets it.
Arkwrisht (FR) -Form Profile:
A 138-rated chaser, he got off the mark over fences in a maiden chase at Kilbeggan in August and went on to finish a close second in the Kerry National at Listowel.
Trainer Says:
He ran very well in the Kerry National, but he took a fall in the Munster National last time. He’s fine after that and we won’t rush him back, but the Cork Grand National on November 5th will be considered for him. Winter ground will be no problem for him.
Bhutan - Form Profile:
Rated 87 on the Flat, he won a maiden hurdle at Tipperary in July prior to running below form in a novice hurdle at the Galway Festival.
Trainer Says:
He just ran too free in the Irish Cesarewitch and didn’t get home at all. He’ll go back over hurdles soon and we’ll probably drop him back to two miles. He’s only had six runs in his life, so more racing experience will do him good.
Early Doors (FR) - Form Profile:
Made an impressive winning debut in a bumper at Punchestown in February and ran well to finish a close third in the Land Rover Bumper at the Punchestown Festival.
Trainer Says:
He’s an exciting horse. He’s nearly ready to start off in a maiden hurdle and has been schooling well. We’ll probably start him off over two miles, but he’s one that could step up in trip in time. I’d be hopeful he can be a Graded novice hurdler.
Edwulf - Form Profile:
A 152-rated chaser, he overcame some jumping difficulties to come good over fences last season, winning twice including a valuable novices’ handicap chase at Naas in February. Well-fancied for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, he collapsed after being pulled up on the run-in, but has since recovered.
Trainer Says:
He had a very rough experience in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March where he looked to go wrong and was pulled up on the run-in. The vets said that what happened was basically caused by a lack of oxygen. He was trying so hard that he ran out of oxygen and his body shut itself down so that the oxygen could be diverted straight to his vital organs. He was very well looked after in the equine hospital in England and he went for a long break after he came home. He is back cantering with me now and looks great. We haven’t made a plan for him yet, but I’m delighted to have him back and for him to be looking as well as he is.
Grey Waters (IRE) - Form Profile:
Rated 61 on the Flat, she has won two of her three starts in juvenile hurdles.
Trainer Says:
She has done very well to win twice over hurdles and she ran a nice race back on the Flat at Dundalk last time. She’ll either have another run on the Flat back on turf or she could go straight to the winners-of-two juvenile hurdle at Down Royal on November 4th.
Housesofparliament - Form Profile:
A 133-rated hurdler, he won a novice hurdle at the Galway Festival and ran well in Grade 3 novice company at Tipperary in October.
Trainer Says:
He ran very well on soft ground in a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Tipperary last time. He has a few options between conditions races and handicaps in the next six weeks, so we won’t be in a rush to make plans for him. In an ideal world he’d get less testing ground than he got at Tipperary, but that’s the time of year we are in.
Ivanovich Gorbatov (IRE) - Form Profile:
A 150-rated hurdler, he won the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2016 and he acquitted himself quite well in open Grade 1 company last time.
Trainer Says:
He’s in very good form and looks brilliant. He’s about a month away from a run and he might mix it up between handicaps and conditions hurdles.
Katnap (FR) - Form Profile:
A 133-rated chaser, he won a handicap chase at Leopardstown in January prior to finishing second in the Topham Chase at Aintree in April.
Trainer Says:
He has arrived in America to run in the American Grand National at Far Hills on October 21st. Conditions should suit him out there and it’s worth $400,000. If you aren’t in, you can’t win!
Landofhopeandglory - Form Profile:
A 144-rated hurdler, he has made a successful transition to chasing, winning two of his four starts over the larger obstacles including a Grade 3 novice chase at Roscommon in September.
Trainer Says:
He has been progressing nicely over fences and his jumping is getting better with experience. We have him entered in the Buck House Novice Chase at Punchestown on Thursday and I’d say he’ll keep going through the winter.
Le Richebourg (FR) - Form Profile:
Unbeaten in three starts over hurdles, most recently winning a novice contest at the Galway Festival.
Trainer Says:
We think a lot of him and has the potential to be a very good horse. We gave him a bit of a freshen up after he won at the Galway Festival and the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on December 3rd is his target. He could well have a run between now and then, possibly in the For-Auction Novice Hurdle at Navan on November 12th, but that decision will be taken a bit closer to the time. He could step up in trip, but we’re happy with him at two miles for the time being. Soft ground should be fine for him.
Mortal - Form Profile:
Made an impressive winning debut in a bumper at Limerick in March.
Trainer Says:
He’s back in full work and is about three weeks away from a run. He’ll go straight over hurdles and he is one that shouldn’t have any problem going two-and-a-half miles in due course.
Outspoken - Form Profile:
A 138-rated hurdler, he finished second in a Grade 2 novice hurdle last season.
Trainer Says:
He’s about a month away from a run and he is likely to stay over hurdles this season. He’ll probably be one for conditions and Graded races.
Persistent - Form Profile:
A 123-rated hurdler, he has won three of his five starts in handicap hurdles and improved 21lb.
Trainer Says:
He won his last two in good style and he is progressing nicely. I’m sure he’ll back up in trip at some stage, but hopefully he’ll just keep improving as he is for another while. It’s hard to say what has brought about the improvement as we haven’t changed much with him, so it’s probably just experience that has brought him on. Long may it continue!
Shady Operator - Form Profile:
Made a winning debut in a bumper at Limerick in March.
Trainer Says:
He won a bumper last season and is just about ready to start off in maiden hurdle. He might start out over two miles, but he should get two-and-a-half miles in time.
Slowmotion (FR) - Form Profile:
A 144-rated chaser, she has won three of her nine starts over fences including a Grade 3 mares chase at Fairyhouse in April.
Trainer Says:
She was disappointing in the Munster National, so we are going to freshen up aim her at the Listed mares chase at Clonmel on November 16th.
Speak Easy - Form Profile:
The first foal out of the smart race mare For Bill, he made an impressive winning debut in a point-to-point at Kilworth in March prior to changing hands for £220,000 later that month.
Trainer Says:
He won his point-to-point for the Doyle’s and is just about ready to start off in a maiden hurdle. He’s a nice type of horse that should stay quite well.
The Gunner Murphy - Form Profile:
Made a winning debut in a bumper at Galway in October.
Trainer Says:
He won his bumper very nicely and we think a lot of him. I’m not sure where his next run will be, but we won’t be going novice hurdling with him until next season for sure. He’s a lovely horse.
Tigris River – Form Profile:
A 150-rated hurdler, he produced a career-best effort when winning the Galway Hurdle in July.
Trainer Says:
We freshened him up after Galway and he’s in great form. He has plenty of options, but the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham November meeting is being considered as his next start. The stiff two miles there would suit him and hopefully he can find a bit more improvement.
Tower Bridge-Form Profile:
Has won two of his three starts in bumpers this year.
Trainer Says:
He won his two bumpers very well and the plan is to go hurdling with him in the coming weeks. How he handles the softer ground will dictate whether we give him a break or keep going with him.
Triplicate - Form Profile:
Rated 101 on the Flat, he won two of his three starts for Aidan O’Brien in 2016.
Trainer Says:
He is nearly ready to start off in a maiden hurdle. He has done plenty of schooling and seems to enjoy it. He should handle soft ground and we are looking forward to him.
West Coast Time - Form Profile:
The winner of a bumper last season, he made a winning hurdling debut at Gowran Park in September prior to running below form in a Listed novice hurdle at Limerick on his next start.
Trainer Says:
He won his maiden hurdle well, but was a bit disappointing at Limerick last time. We won’t rush him back and will find another novice hurdle for him. I’d be hopeful that his jumping will progress with racing.
Rekindling winner of the Group 2 Curragh Cup & the Group 3 Ballysax
Tigris River winning the Galway Plate
Tesseract
