Joseph O’Brien's Grand designs ahead of Aintree trip
Trainer Joseph O'Brien pictured at his stables with Comeragh Mountain and the Kilkenny countryside behind him. Pic: Healy Racing
The Flat season is gradually ratcheting up but, before it takes sole ownership of Joseph O’Brien’s professional thoughts, there’s plenty of life left in the current jumps campaign and the 32-year-old is dreaming of adding a Grand National success to an already remarkable CV.
O’Brien is set to be doubly represented in the Aintree spectacular Saturday week and regards Banbridge, who got within a nose of back-to-back King George wins at Kempton before finishing third in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham as an “interesting” National contender, for all that he acknowledges that the marathon trip is an obvious question mark.
“Sean [Bowen, jockey] got off him in Cheltenham, and said two-five is probably a bit short for him, but three-two would probably stretch him there, the pace they go,” the Owning Hill handler, who is also set to run Jordans in the National, said on Thursday.
“Kempton over a quick three miles is probably perfect for him. He ran well in the Ryanair, he was just flat out all the way. He made one mistake, which maybe cost him second. But, personally, I think he'd be interesting in the National.
“I'm not saying that he'll win it, but he'll be a great ride in the race. And he'll go the first three miles, assuming normal luck and a nice rhythm. Whatever happens from there happens.”
While confident the 10-year-old will outrun odds of 50-1, he’d be more bullish still if he was running in an old-style National.
“He’d have been even better off back when the fences were bigger and harder. But, you know, that type of horse probably had a really good record in the old National, because they didn't go as hard as they do now.
“But I do think he's good at Aintree and I think the track will suit him.”
Elsewhere at Aintree, veteran Home By The Lee may attempt to back up his surprise Stayers’ Hurdle success at Cheltenham, a win O’Brien is still savouring.
“That was a fantastic day. I think he's our winningmost horse, he’s won 12 races and I don't think we've had a horse win more than that. He's been a great horse for years.
“For Seán O'Driscoll and his family to have bred him and to have been through the journey all the way through is remarkable.”
Talk The Talk disappointed in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and won’t run again until next season, when he will probably tackle fences.
Reflecting on Cheltenham, O’Brien said: “In hindsight I ran him in the wrong race. The tempo of the race just caught him out but he still came home well. We're not concerned, I made a bad call on the day, but hindsight is easy.
“It’s funny though, the Irish horses in that race, we’d all been running on brutal ground. There were three or four smart Irish horses in there. I'm sure they'll all turn out to be good horses in the fullness of time but they all got lost early. That’s the way it goes. I'd say he's probably a middle distance horse anyway, as opposed to a two-miler.”
Looking ahead to the Flat season, O’Brien regards Pinatubo colt Hardy Warrior, who made a winning return at Naas last month, as a potential Classic contender.
“We're just toying around where he goes next, but we're thinking that he could potentially be an Irish/German Guineas type, one run somewhere between now and then. He was obviously good on his reappearance and I think it'll probably work out to be a decent race. I think he'll go out past a mile as well as the year goes on.” James J Braddock is another colt for whom O’Brien has high hopes.
“He's a smart horse, a good work horse, and he's going to start off in Leopardstown in a couple of weeks. He obviously won on soft ground and he's a son of Zarak, so we'll see how he handles better ground as we get into the summer.”
Thundering On, a daughter of Frankel, is the horse O’Brien opts for when asked to nominate a three-year-old filly to follow this season.
“Thundering On has the pedigree and she has the form as well. I wouldn't be looking too much further than her.” Asked which horse he is most excited about this season, O’Brien replied: “Al Riffa is the obvious one really, but there's an interesting horse that has only just arrived to us. He was in training in America, his name is Dublin’s Knight.
“He's only run three times, but he looks very talented. He hasn't run for a little while, but I'd say he could be quite a good horse if he can get things together. He's kind of a mile to 10-furlong horse.”
Stable rider Dylan Browne McMonagle is currently sidelined but should be back in action by the middle of next month and O’Brien believes he can still mount a bold defence of his champion jockey crown.
“It was a great achievement for him to be champion last year. Obviously, he would have loved to have tried to back it up this year, but he'd probably be starting off with dropping maybe 15 winners or so to the lads. I'm sure he'll still give it a good rattle.”
As, no doubt, will his trainer.
