by David Jennings
Joseph O’Brien may be transitioning to the Flat – he is coming off his best year so far in that code – but he still has a team for the winter that most trainers would be envious of.
Arkle runner-up Fakir D’Oudairies spearheads O’Brien’s team of jumpers and will be joined in top chases by fellow Grade 1-winning novice chaser Le Richebourg, who has been absent since blowing his Irish Arkle rivals away in February 2019 but is set to make his long-awaited return next month.
Cheltenham Festival winners Band Of Outlaws and Early Doors may be sidelined for the season but there are any number of potential stars of the future waiting in the wings at Owning Hill.
Eric Bloodaxe is a horse O’Brien has always spoken highly of and is one such youngster the trainer is looking forward to sending over hurdles, while Forged In Fire and Fire Attack are other smart bumper horses ready to embark on novice hurdle campaigns.
Stable profile
Yard Owning
Hill
Where Piltown, County Kilkenny
Started training 2016
Horses in yard 60 (National Hunt)
Members of staff 40
Head lad Faisal Hayat
Assistant trainers Mark Power and Brendan Powell
Secretaries Mark Hackett, Emma Dunning and Tara Armstrong
Travelling Head Girls/Lads Jim O’Brien, Tina Evans and Paddy Doody
Jockeys Mark Walsh, JJ Slevin, Ryan Treacy, Jody McGarvey and
Eamonn Corbett
Amateurs Tom Hamilton and Neil Bashford
Conditionals Oakley Brown and Daire Davis
Stable sponsor Betfair
Website/email joseph@carriganogracing.com
Twitter @JosephOBrien2
Winners in Ireland
2019-20 68
2018-19 88
2017-18 67
2016-17 38
Profit/loss to €1 stake
2019-20 -151.36
2018-19 -128.5
2017-18 -48.46
2016-17 -109.02
Horses:
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | K | L | M | N | S | T | U |
Anything Will Do
Five-year-old gelding
Westerner (sire) – Aylesbury Park (dam)
Owner: Annus Mirabilis Syndicate
Form figures: 330-123
Racing Post Rating: 142 (chase); Official rating: None
He’s taken to chasing well. He won his beginners‘ chase very well down in Killarney but maybe we shouldn’t have run him when the ground was a bit quick at Listowel. He ran better when third at Fairyhouse but I was actually a bit disappointed with him. A step up in trip could suit him well. We’ll look for a handicap and I think there could be a decent pot in him.
Dark horse
Assemble
6g Getaway – Annaghbrack
Gigginstown House Stud
44/1163-
RPR 144h OR 141h
He goes novice chasing. He wasn’t a bad novice hurdler but I’d be hoping that he’ll be better over a fence. Hopefully he can make up into a graded performer.
A Wave Of The Sea
4g Born To Sea – Je T’Adore
JP McManus
17-0413
RPR 130c OR –
A good juvenile hurdler for us last year, he won his beginners‘ chase well at Kilbeggan and has since run well in a novice chase at Punchestown. He jumped a bit to his left at the last that day but galloped home well. I’d say we’ll step him up in trip now.
Busselton
3g Mastercraftsman – Blessed Luck
Chanelle Pharma Ltd
1-
RPR 119h OR –
He won in France and he looks a nice horse to go three-year-old hurdling with.
Castra Vetera
5m Jeremy – Mystic Cherry
Gigginstown House Stud
181-
RPR 114b
We really like her. She showed good form in bumpers last season and we’re hoping that she can make a Graded novice hurdler. She should be ready to start soon enough and long-term you’d be hoping that she would develop into a mare who would have a chance in the mares‘ novice at Cheltenham.
Cerberus
4g Iffraaj – Miss You Too
JP McManus
11236-4
RPR 140h OR 138h
He’s been a small bit disappointing. He has the option of stepping into handicap hurdles and we might go up in trip with him.
Choungaya
7g Walk In The Park – Autorite
Gigginstown House Stud
7/244U6-
RPR 140c OR 137c
He’s still a novice over fences but he should be well up to winning his beginners‘ chase and then hopefully go on to all of those staying handicaps. He ended up being a little bit disappointing last season but hopefully with another year under his belt he’ll be okay.
Collins
4g Martaline – Fantastic Cuix
Martin O’Sullivan
He’s a nice horse who goes well and will be ready to start soon.
Darasso
7g Konig Turf – Nassora
JP McManus
511/420-
RPR 161c OR 155c
He could start off in the Clonmel Oil Chase. He’s a very versatile horse who will be campaigned in all of those Graded races and he loves heavy ground. There should be lots of fun to be had with him.
Deilginis
6m Flemensfirth – Square Sphere
Martin O’Sullivan
4/10511-
RPR 122c OR 122c
She’s a nice staying chaser who won her last two over fences last season. She’s not a bad mare at all and I think she’s one to follow as there are plenty more races to be won with her.
Dlauro
7g Lauro – Gergovie De Bussy
JP McManus
1/10-
RPR 126b
He goes novice chasing and starts off next month. He’s been a very difficult horse to train, very frustrating, but he’s training well at the moment. He burst blood vessels when last seen at Punchestown but, touch wood, everything seems to be good with him now.
Druid’s Altar
3g Mastercraftsman – Shell Garland
Annus Mirabilis Syndicate
35621 (Flat)
RPR 79 (Flat)
He won his maiden over a mile and a half at Listowel and looks a nice type to go juvenile hurdling with.
Embittered
6g Fame And Glory – Kilbarry Classic
Gigginstown House Stud
415363-
RPR 152h OR 148h
He’s an exciting horse to go novice chasing with. He did well as a novice hurdler and had a good end to his campaign. He’ll run in a beginners‘ chase in the next few weeks. His schooling has gone well and we hope he is a Graded horse at least over fences.
Entoucas
6g Network – Mousse Des Bois
JP McManus
32213-2
RPR 134c OR –
He ran a lovely race first time up over fences at Tipperary and the plan will be to try to win a beginners‘ chase and go from there.
Eric Bloodaxe
5g Saint Des Saints – Diorissima
Gigginstown House Stud
117-
RPR 131b OR –
A very good bumper horse, he missed a little bit of time last season but he’s back looking and working great again. He’ll start off in a maiden hurdle next month and we’ll take things from there. His bumper form is working out well and he had a genuine excuse for when he was beaten in Leopardstown as he pulled muscles that day. We have high hopes for him this season.
Fakir
5g Day Flight – Lazary
Gigginstown House Stud
5761U1-
RPR 144h OR 131h
He’ll go novice chasing. He could make up into a decent handicapper and might even be a Graded horse. He’ll go down the staying route.
Star quality
Fakir D’Oudairies
5g Kapgarde – Niagaria Du Bois
JP McManus
2/21122-
RPR 165c OR 159c
He’ll probably go to Naas for the Grade 2 Poplar Square Chase next month and then we’ll look at stepping him up in trip as the season progresses. I think he’d have won the Arkle had he not galloped through the second-last and he did well to get back as close as he did to Put The Kettle On at the line. He could be a Ryanair horse but he’s still only a five-year-old so he’s very young. Hopefully there will be a lot more to come.
Fils D’Oudairies
5g Saint Des Saint – Pythie D’Oudairies
C.M Grech
481-
RPR 121h
He’s a nice horse who came to us from France after winning over hurdles at Auteuil. He’ll go novice chasing.
Flying Scotsman
3g Galileo – Iveagh Gardens
JP McManus, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
099-011 (Flat)
RPR 86 OR 87 (Flat)
He won twice in as many days on the Flat at Galway. We’ve gelded him and are looking forward to sending him over hurdles, when I hope there will be some fun to be had with him.
Fire Attack
5g Westerner – Seesea
Gigginstown House Stud
12-
RPR 126b
A good bumper horse who likes soft ground, he’ll go for a maiden hurdle in the coming weeks and we’ll go from there. We have Graded aspirations for him.
Forged In Fire
5g Presenting – Green Star
Gigginstown House Stud
1-
RPR 129b
He was a nice bumper horse and he’s probably going to be more of a staying novice. He’s almost ready to start and we think he’s very nice, one of our better novice hurdlers.
Front View
5g Konig Turf – Tumavue
JP McManus
B/12120-
RPR 139h OR 135h
He was progressing nicely last season until the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham, when he didn’t like the very slow pace and didn’t jump great. The plan at the moment is to go chasing, although I wouldn’t rule out coming back for a handicap hurdle.
Global Equity
5g Shirocco – Geek Chic
Annus Mirabilis Syndicate
3133P-
RPR 130h
She has black type over hurdles but is still a novice, which is good. We’ll go down the staying route.
High Sparrow
7g Shantou – Belladventure
Best Of The Rest Syndicate
556-120
RPR 133c OR 130c
He’s done well since switching back to fences this summer and he might sneak a staying handicap chase off a light weight. He’s entered in the Cork National this Sunday and the Troytown the following Sunday.
Home By The Lee
5g Fame And Glory – Going For Home
Sean O’Driscoll
1218U-1
RPR 148c OR –
He looked beaten first time out at Limerick this season but stayed on well to the line to win. That was his first start over fences so you’d have to be delighted. He’ll have a staying novice chase campaign now. He’s done very little wrong and is still a very young horse.
Keskonrisk
5g No Risk At All – La Courtille
C.M.Grech
1-
RPR 119
He made quite a lot of money after winning a Fairyhouse bumper for Timmy Hyde and the plan is to go novice hurdling. He shows a fair bit of speed.
King’s Vow
4g Frankel – Seven Magicians
Blackrock Racing Syndicate/Rugby And Racing Syndicate
070645 (Flat)
RPR 99 OR 91 (Flat)
He has a high mark on the Flat and now goes novice hurdling. He jumps well.
Le Richebourg
7g Network – Fee Magic
JP McManus
511211/
RPR 165c OR 160c
He missed last season through injury but is in great shape now. It won’t be long until he’s back out again and the Fortria Chase at Navan is a possible starting point. It’s probably not going to be easy for him this season but hopefully we can get a clear run with him.
Midnight Run
6g Well Chosen – Knockamullen Girl
Gigginstown House Stud
121/196-
RPR 146h OR 142h
He goes novice chasing and has taken to fences well at home. He could be a decent novice chaser.
Mortal
8g King’s Theatre – Pomme Tiepy
Gigginstown House Stud
43-U18F
RPR 155c OR 153c
He’ll be aimed at all of those good staying handicap chases, but he probably doesn’t jump as well out of deep winter ground.
New Ross
4g Doyen – Hayley Cometh
P McGee
4-
RPR 104h OR –
He could go for a bumper or a maiden hurdle. There should be plenty of races to be won with him.
San Salvador
El Salvador – Angel Chorus
Sarah O’Brien
6-
RPR 96b
He ran well at Naas in a very slowly run race and we gave him a break after that. He’s working well and will go for a bumper soon.
Scarlet And Dove
6m Jeremy – Dark Mimosa
Gigginstown House Stud
1/514-
RPR 124h
The plan will be to try to get black type over hurdles and she’ll probably jump a fence too.
Sempo
6g Oscar – Miss Cozzene
Martin O’Sullivan
16/3216-
RPR 145h OR 142h
A nice horse who was a good staying novice hurdler last season, he’ll probably go chasing. He’s had a little hold-up and won’t be back as early as some of the others but he’s nice.
Slige Dala
5g Sholokhov – Lady’s Gesture
Rectory Road Holdings Limited
23-1114
RPR 122h
We probably backed up too soon after Listowel when he got beaten at Limerick. We’ll freshen him up and aim him at Leopardstown over Christmas. He doesn’t want heavy ground.
Speak Easy
7g Beneficial – For Bill
JP McManus
32/3F3-4
RPR 148c OR 142c
He’s a second-season novice over fences and should come on from his return at Galway last weekend. Hopefully there will be a nice pot in him somewhere.
The Moyglass Flyer
6g Galileo – Luas Line
JP McManus
1/31-
RPR 133h OR 129h
He’s done very little wrong and won for the second time in three runs over hurdles at Leopardstown last Christmas. He’ll be aimed at all of those good handicap hurdles.
Uhtred
5g Fame And Glory – Ingred Hans
Gigginstown House Stud
1/21-
RPR 131h
He was a good bumper horse and has already had a run over hurdles, when he was second to another one of ours [Front View]. The plan is to go novice hurdling and we’ll take it step by step.
Two for the tracker
Forged In Fire is a nice horse and looks as though he could be one of the better horses we have in the novice hurdling division. Deilginis is a nice staying mare and I think there will be lots of races won with her this season.
Expert view
Joseph O’Brien won the Galway Plate with a horse who had never won over fences before and he might be able to do likewise with Speak Easy in the Troytown Chase at Navan on Sunday week.
Early Doors defied a mark of 139 to break his duck over fences at Galway and Speak Easy has a similar sort of profile. He won his maiden hurdle at Navan and a mark of 141 does not look insurmountable, especially since he shaped with such promise in a beginners chase at Galway on Sunday.
O’Brien is a dab hand at picking the right handicaps for his horses who are just below Grade 1 level, and expect him to do likewise with Entoucas.
He didn’t hit the heights expected of him over hurdles, but jumped beautifully on his chasing debut at Tipperary and could win a big handicap chase next spring. The Grand Annual or Brown Advisory Plate could be on his radar.
The real quality on Owning Hill lies in the youth division. O’Brien has a whole host of novice hurdlers who have the potential to make it to the very top of the game.
Some say Ferny Hollow was not at his best when Forged In Fire beat him at Leopardstown over Christmas, but the pair stepped on the gas on the home turn and pulled 17 lengths clear of everything else. He could end up being a Ballymore contender.
Eric Bloodaxe also beat Ferny Hollow in a bumper and looks to have more pace than Forged In Fire. He could end up in the Supreme, as could Uhtred who showed a good turn of foot at Navan in December. Castra Vetera is an imposing mare, who is only going to get stronger and better with time. She is seriously smart so put her in your tracker in case you miss her turning up in a maiden hurdle somewhere soon. You will not regret it.
