Joseph O'Brien hoping State Of Rest will be his 'flagship horse' this year

The Owning Hill trainer says Buckaroo will go down the Derby path

Joseph O'Brien says Fakir D’Oudairies is in 'great nick' ahead of his defence of his Melling Chase crown at Aintree. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA 

Joseph O’Brien scoffs at the idea of a trainers’ championship rivalry with his father, Aidan, but the bare facts show that numerically he is more than competitive, and, with the team strengthening up year on year, it is only a matter of time before familial rivalry plays out in the title race.

Last season, the Owning Hill trainer saddled 108 winners, 20 more than his father, who was crowned champion trainer for the 22nd consecutive year and 23rd in all by virtue of total prize money of more than three and a half million.