Joseph O’Brien off the mark for season

Joseph O’Brien insisted his weight “isn’t too bad” as he returned to the winner’s enclosure on the Flat for the first time this season.

O’Brien missed the start of the Irish turf campaign at the Curragh and rode over hurdles, and recently his father, Aidan, has spoken of Ryan Moore taking more of the rides on the big guns at Ballydoyle this term.

But O’Brien junior is still involved and was at Leopardstown yesterday, where he drove 3-1 chance Hans Holbein – a horse he partnered at Cork recently — to a two-and-three-quarter-length victory from the odds-on Valac in the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Summer Racedays Maiden.