A interesting piece in the Racing POST this morning on Joseph o Brien..JOSEPH O'BRIEN has been made a 5-2 shot with Paddy Power to train the winner of the JCB Triumph Hurdle in March after reports he has received an influx of well-bred three-year-olds off the Flat from father Aidan.
Leading the team of gelded code-switchers is Ladbrokes St Leger third Housesofparliament, who has been installed the firm's 16-1 favourite for the juvenile showpiece at the Cheltenham Festival.
In a major overhaul at the top of the Triumph market, Sword Fighter, Bhutan, Landofhopeandglory and The Major General have been inserted at 20-1 with Tree Of Knowledge and Triplicate 25-1, Big Ben, Cook Islands and Unicorn 33-1 and Immortal Bridge 50-1.
O'Brien, who started training in June with a team split "almost 50-50" between Flat and National Hunt, is embarking on his first jumps season but gained all the plaudits for masterminding last term's Triumph success for Ivanovich Gorbatov, who won under his father's name.
Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield: "This huge injection of well-bred three-year-olds from his father into Joseph's yard bodes extremely well for a second successive Triumph Hurdle win and if just three or four of them take to obstacles, he could even become a threat to Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott for champion Irish jumps trainer in the very near future."
Joseph is to get a staggering team of high-class three-year-olds from his father Aidan's barn in a major boost for the young trainer and rider Barry Geraghty. Geraghty is retained rider for JP McManus, who has acquired the steeds from Coolmore.
They include Housesofparliament, last seen running a blinder in third in the Leger at Doncaster. He is one of the best Flat horses to go jumping for some time. The Major General, 109-rated and touched off in the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, is also to be gelded and go to Piltown, in addition to Group Two Curragh Cup winner Sword Fighter. Other runners with three-figure Flat ratings to make the move from his father to the 23-year-old are Tree Of Knowledge, Landofhopeandglory and Triplicate. The rest are Big Ben, Cook Islands, Unicorn, Immortal Bridge and Bhutan.
Plans have yet to be revealed for these horses but O'Brien looks to have a huge chance of a second successive Triumph Hurdle win. Last year's victor in the Triumph, Ivanovich Gorbatov, is a possible rival for Apple's Jade on Friday.
Joseph is to get a staggering team of high-class three-year-olds from his father Aidan's barn in a major boost for the young trainer and rider Barry Geraghty.Geraghty is retained rider for JP McManus, who has acquired the steeds from Coolmore.They in
Makes me laugh the way people think class flat horses just need to jump the hurdles to win grade 1 races over jumps, doesn't work like that, in fact the highest rated flat horses turn on to be useless over jumps more times than not, purple moon and Washington Irving been two recent examples
Makes me laugh the way people think class flat horses just need to jump the hurdles to win grade 1 races over jumps, doesn't work like that, in fact the highest rated flat horses turn on to be useless over jumps more times than not, purple moon and W
AFTER his maiden hdl win in F/hse... impossible123 • November 7, 2016 2:10 PM GMT That was an ok debut to me but the bookies were more impressed; he is as short as 10/1 from 20/1 for the Triumph Hurdle - Jp McManus's money? Hubert • November 7, 2016 3:47 PM GMT I was well impressed tbh... Thought he jumped very well when picking up the pace which is the doubt with these recruits
Barry Geraghty added: "He was good. He was a bit novicey early, but from halfway he was getting the hang of it. It comes easier to some than others, but he has a good jump. "He came out of my hands at the one coming down from Ballyhack, which is a good sign, he was starting to measure it himself, and he was very good from there home. It was a good performance and hopefully he can build on it. "He did very well on the flat, so if he can transfer than level of form to hurdles there should be plenty of fun with him. Not all horses can carry across flat form to hurdles, and it's so far so good with him. "It's lively ground for a winter horse, and it'll be interesting to see how he copes with softer ground when he gets that."
AFTER his maiden hdl win in F/hse...impossible123 • November 7, 2016 2:10 PM GMT That was an ok debut to me but the bookies were more impressed; he is as short as 10/1 from 20/1 for the Triumph Hurdle - Jp McManus's money? Hubert • November 7,