O'Brien double sees championship shared

Joseph O’Brien rode a final day double to draw level with Gary Carroll and Ben Curtis as the three shared the apprentice jockeys’ title on 39 winners on a thrilling night at Dundalk.

O’Brien had the advantage of the backing of the powerful Ballydoyle stable who have provided him with a large proportion of his winners but he worked up a real head of steam in the final few weeks.

Carroll, the defending champion, and Curtis had struggled for victories in recent weeks as the season drew to a close with the final few meetings on the all-weather.

Fresh from a double on Wednesday, O’Brien struck on board Empowering (11-4) for his father in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, making nearly all the running.

“She progressed nicely from her first run to her second and has done the same again here. Joseph felt she wouldn’t mind stepping up to a mile after the last day. Hopefully she will continue to progress next year,” said the winning trainer.

The all-important winner which drew him level was Regent Street (2-5 favourite), also trained by his father, who had to survive a steward’s enquiry in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

However it could have all been so different as Carroll looked set to nick it in the final race when Dark Prospect hit the front but was caught in the final strides by Denny Crane (4-1).

Carroll was also on Via Mia who was narrowly denied by No Trimmings (16-1) in the second division of the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap.

Pat Smullen was crowned champion jockey with 95 winners. Seven ahead of Fran Berry and eight ahead of Murtagh.

“It’s very satisfying and even more so this year as the other two lads gave it a good go,” said Smullen.

“It was very tight up until the last two or three weeks and I’m very relieved.

“I was always sitting comfortably until I went to Melbourne and Fran had a few winners which unsettled me a bit!

“The boss (Dermot Weld) has produced winners right through the year and obviously Rite Of Passage winning at Ascot was the highlight.

“That would be the highlight for most jockeys, winning the Ascot Gold Cup. Hopefully he’ll be around for many years to come,” he told At The Races.

Murtagh returned from a short stint riding abroad with a winner on Sports Casual in the first division.

Riding the 9-2 favourite for Yvonne Dunleavy, Murtagh always looked confident in winning by two lengths.

“She had run well when second on her last two starts and I’m delighted to win here. She will have a few months off and be back again next year. Hopefully I can get a few more owners after this,” said Dunleavy.