O’Brien at the double

HAVING enjoyed mixed luck in Epsom’s Group 1 action, Aidan O’Brien completed a double with Viscount Nelson and Vault at the Curragh last night, both ridden by Colm O’Donoghue.

Without a win since his juvenile days, but placed twice at the highest level last season, Viscount Nelson, ridden with supreme confidence by O’Donoghue, justified odds-on favouritism in the featured Donate to KARE at kare.ie Silver Stakes.

Having tracked market-rival Bob Le Beau (whose rider Shane Foley was suspended for one day for hitting his horse down the shoulder) Viscount Nelson cruised into the lead early in the final furlong and, shaken up, stretched clear to score by three and a half lengths, prompting O’Donoghue to comment: “He had a bit in hand on ratings and did it well. This will do his confidence good. It’s onwards and upwards with him from here.”