AIDAN O’BRIEN would ‘love’ to have jumps horses and hasn’t completely ruled out an incredible return to National Hunt racing, says son Joseph.
The master of Ballydoyle is best known for his exploits on the Flat but also trained Istabraq to three-straight Champion Hurdle titles from 1998.
That horse captured 13 Grade 1s in the iconic JP McManus green and gold silks, and the Flat trainer’s exploits over jumps also included giving 20-time champion jockey AP McCoy four winners.
But his last horse over obstacles was all the way back in the 2016-17 Irish jumps season.
While his last winner was King Leon in a 2m7f handicap chase at Ballinrobe on May 31, 2016.
O’Brien, as trainer to the all-conquering Coolmore operation, has quite rightly focused on the Flat, where his winners have brought in more than £180million.
But trainer son Joseph has revealed his old man still has one eye on the National Hunt game.
And though it’s unlikely he will make a return any time soon, he hasn’t ruled it out entirely.
Joseph told DAZN Bet: “Both mum and dad were both National Hunt trainers in Ireland at different times.
“National Hunt is really in our blood and that’s why we’ll continue to have a presence in National Hunt racing.
“I don’t know if Aidan will come back to have a go at Willie!
“But I’m sure he’d love to have some National Hunt horses in the future… but I don’t think that’s on the horizon right now.”
Joseph himself had a dual licence but has started focusing more on the Flat in recent years.
Although he will go to Cheltenham Festival with a few chances of his own, notably Banbridge.
The brilliant chaser is currently favourite for the Ryanair but needs conditions in his favour to be certain of a run.
Speaking of his own Festival squad, Joseph added: “In recent seasons, we’ve been concentrating more on our Flat horses and, as a result, we don’t have as many jumps horses training at the moment.
“We still have a select few nice horses for Cheltenham, and that team will be headed up mainly by Banbridge who has been one of our flag bearers in recent times.
“Home By The Lee is intended to run in the Stayers’ Hurdle, and we’ll have a horse called Nurburgring who will run in the Triumph Hurdle.
“Lark In The Mornin will either run in the Triumph or the Fred Winter.
“We’ve got a couple more handicappers, with a horse called Solness who will run in the handicap and another called Busselton who will go in one of the handicaps as well.”
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