Joseph O'Brien records fifth National Stakes win

Joseph O'Brien won a fifth Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes today as Scorthy Champ (12/1) provided jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle with his third Group 1 success, following his initial top-level win in today's Curragh's race in 2022.

The Mehmas-colt had finished third to Henri Matisse in the Futurity Stakes last month and while that same rival today started the 5/6 favourite, he again raced waywardly in the closing stages and failed to match three-parts-of-a-length winner Scorthy Champ.

O'Brien's previous wins in today's race initially came as a jockey in 2014 and '15 and, in his new roll as a trainer, in 2020 and in 2022, with the Browne McMonagle-steered Al Riffa.

Today he stated “it's a special day. I'm really happy with the horse and it was a fantastic ride from Dylan.

“I delighted for Barry Fowler (owner) who is in the partnership with Sam McCauley and has been such a good supporter of ours for the last number of years.

“We've had nice horses in the past but thought early-on that we had a chance of having a really nice one this year. It is so special to win a Group 1 here this weekend.”

He added “he came back here the last day following a lay-off so we knew whatever happened, we were going to be better after the run. I'm not saying we'd thought we'd win but we thought we'd run a big race.

“I thought it was very impressive and Dylan said he idled in front and that he is a top notcher.

“It was a tough choice for Dylan because obviously (stablemate) Cowardofthecounty was a group winner last time. However we were watching the going for Cowardofthecounty and he actually ran a good race (finishing fifth). He didn't get the run of it, got pushed around but wasn't beaten far.

“They are two high class colts but Scorthy Champ probably has a little bit of brilliance about him.”

“I don't know what he will do next but if I was to guess, I'd say he will run again this season. I see him more as a miler so the Prix Lagardere or the Breeders Cup are options.”

Joint-owner McCauley added “I was nearly too nervous and it was as good as seeing Wexford win an all-Ireland!

“The name comes from Enniscorthy. When I was at school people would say 'come on Scorthy'.”

Quotes from Gary Carson