O’Brien has high hopes for Abbey

Joseph O’Brien is hoping St Nicholas Abbey will handle the expected soft ground when he returns to action at the Curragh on Monday.

O’Brien, 18, enjoyed one of the biggest successes of his riding career so far on that horse, trained by his father, Aidan, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs in November.

The pair went down by a quarter of a length to Cirrus Des Aigles in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March, but the winner has since landed an impressive victory in the Prix Ganay.