Joseph O’Brien insists weight issues are under control as he wins at Leopardstown

Joseph O’Brien insisted his weight “isn’t too bad” as he returned to the winner’s enclosure on the Flat for the first time this season.

O'Brien missed the start of the Irish turf campaign at the Curragh and rode over hurdles, and recently his father, Aidan, has spoken of Ryan Moore taking more of the rides on the big guns at Ballydoyle this term.

But O’Brien junior is still involved and was at Leopardstown yesterday, where he drove 3/1 chance Hans Holbein – a horse he partnered at Cork recently – to a two-and-three-quarter-length victory from the odds-on Valac in the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Summer Racedays Maiden.

“He relaxed well and got an easy lead. He seems to handle a little give in the ground and I think he can step up in trip,” said O’Brien.

First run

“He improved plenty from Cork and hopefully he can progress again. “Our horses always improve from their first run.”

Reflecting on his weight situation, he said: “My weight isn’t too bad, I’m doing 9st 5lb no problem and a little bit lighter when the season kicks in.

“It has not been too much dissimilar to previous years, we have Ryan on board now this year, which is great, and takes a bit of pressure off me in so far as my weight.

“I was always in touch with Ryan a lot, we get on very well and discuss all the horses. I’m really looking forward to the year.”

O’Brien has had a couple of falls in his handful of outings over timber but said that came with the territory, although he reiterated he had no plans to become an increasingly prominent figure on the jumping scene in the immediate future.

He said: “That [falls] is part and and parcel of it and I’ll have a couple more spins in the next couple of weeks or so.

“We’ve a couple that might go to Punchestown and through the summer, it’s something I really enjoy. I did a lot of eventing when I was younger and loved every minute of it.

Quite happy

“As far as taking it up on a full-time basis, I wouldn’t be so sure. I’m quite happy to keep going the way we are going.”

Fascinating Rock got his season off to the perfect start with a workmanlike victory in the Listed Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown.

Representing the red-hot duo of Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen, who can do little wrong at present, he was sent off the 9-10 favourite.