Joseph O’Brien reaffirms training plans for next year

Joseph O’Brien reiterated his intention to scale back his riding commitments in the likelihood of gaining a trainer’s licence in the spring.

The dual Irish champion jockey does not yet have an official training licence for runners under Rules, but he did saddle his first point-to-point winner at the start of November. He was also credited by his father, Aidan, for preparing Ivanovich Gorbatov ahead of his impressive hurdling debut at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Joseph O’Brien said: “I probably won’t be riding a whole lot – maybe the odd heavyweight – but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I have to do the trainers’ course in March or April, or whenever it comes up, and from there then I’ll have my trainer’s licence.