O'Brien well beaten in dead-heated hurdle bow

Dual Champion Flat Jockey Joseph O'Brien was well beaten on his first ride over jumps at Limerick today, finishing fifth in the Family Fun Day Rated Novice Hurdle, in a race won by dead-heaters Velocity Boy and Rogue Trader

Most eyes were on O'Brien in the race and while his mount Egyptian Warrior jumped well behind the leaders, failed to pick up from the third last and in the end finished well beaten in fifth.

At the business end of a dramatic 2m4f event, trail-blazer Velocity Boy was helped by the fall of challenging Baie Des Iles at the second last and while left well clear, was almost cut down by Rogue Trader on the run-in.

The race was run in testing conditions and Rogue Trader, under Nina Carberry, finished with a wet sail to force a dead-heat at the line.

Reflecting on his first jumps ride, Epsom Derby winning jockey Joseph O'Brien stated "it is different but I enjoyed it. He popped away although the ground was a bit slow for him.

"I'll be in Dundalk again on Wednesday and after that I might ride over jumps whenever we have a few runners. I will be back riding again on the Flat."

Rogue Trader, who runs in the Ballydoyle-Magnier colours, was having his first start for trainer Tom Taaffe and following the win, the Gold Cup winning trainer stated "it was very kind of Mrs Magnier to send me this horse after Charlie Swan finished training and I'm delighted to have him.

"He is a big raw horse who should improve in every aspect and showed great courage to get back to dead-heat.

"Nina gave him a fantastic ride but that was very very testing ground and it'll take him three or four weeks to get over it so I'm not sure when he will run next."

Velocity Boy's trainer Willie Murphy was on lead-up duties and wasn't available for comment.

By Tom Weekes