O’Brien’s mixed fortunes at Epsom

AIDAN O’BRIEN won his 31st British classic and his seventh Oaks when his 19-year-old son, Donnacha, steered home Forever Together at Epsom on Friday, and Ballydoyle also sent out three of the next four, and all seemed as usual with the racing world.

But 24 hours later they suffered one of their biggest disappointments for quite a while when hot favourite, Saxon Warrior, flopped in the Derby.

Money-on favourite and fancied to add the Derby and St. Leger to success in the 2,000 Guineas and become the first horse since Nijinsky to complete the Triple Crown - that was the level of expectation surrounding this horse, and the level of disappointment at his lack-lustre performance.

He finished fourth and was best of the five Ballydoyle runners as victory went to Godolphin’s Masar.

Donnacha O’Brien had won the 2,000 Guineas on Saxon Warrior while Aidan and Moore were in the States for the Kentucky Derby, and he impressively took his second British Classic in the 240th Investec Oaks on Forever Together (7/1), another great day for the family.

Aidan had four runners in the French derby at Chantilly on Sunday but did not figure.

In the Epsom opener on Friday, Pat McDonald from Taghmon was a clearcut winner of the £60,000 two-year-old Woodcote Stakes on Richard Fahey’s Cosmic Law (10/1). Otherwise McDonald had a quiet week with just one other winner, Burgonet (11/4) for Mark Johnston.

Enniscorthy man Pat Dobbs had three winners in the week from 17 rides - Dubai Silk (8/1) at Windsor, Ledham (1/2f) for Michael Stoute, and Shaybani (4/5s) for Richard Hughes at Chepstow.

Over the jumps in Britain, Daryl Jacob had a couple of winners, Salix (4/1f) at Huntingdon and Black Kalanisi (11/8f) at Worcester on Saturday. Tom O’Brien scored on Bodega (3/1) for Ian Williams at Market Rasen.

At home in Ireland, Seán Flanagan had quite a good week over jumps. He had a nice priced winner for Noel Meade each evening at Ballinrobe, Niven (7/1) on Monday and Art of Security (7/1) on Tuesday in the €30,000 feature.

He ended the week with a double at Tramore on Saturday evening, Icelip (4/1) and Ingleby Mackensie (13/8f).

Harley Dunne, prominent point-to-point rider, had a shock bumper win at Ballinrobe on Tuesday on Sole Pretender (25/1) for Galway trainer, Norman Lee.

Young seven pound claimer, Seán O’Keeffe from Taghmon, had a win for Con O’Keeffe (Waterford) in the mares’ maiden hurdle on Kilbarry Angel (4/1) at Tramore on Friday evening.

Trainer Brian Jordan (Rathangan) went close to victory earlier by the seaside with Cotton Jenny (14/1) under Andrew Lynch for Kilmore man, Billy Bates, who had a winner a day earlier at Ffos Las in Wales with Old Salt (11/4), trained by Evan Williams.

Trainer Noel Dooly’s (Davidstown) Coolfighter had his fourth win at the Tramore track on Saturday evening; he had last won 20 months ago at Gowran but was well backed from 22/1 into 12/1 and was given a very cool ride by young Camolin claimer, James O’Sullivan.

Jim Bolger had four winners during the week, Turret Rocks (13/8) and Admodum scoring at Gowran Park and a double at Navan on Saturday, Scoil Naisiunta (8/1) and Constancio (9/4) in a 17k handicap.