Joseph O'Brien: some updates on my Cheltenham hopes

Joseph O'Brien has saddled three Cheltenham Festival winners and Home By The Lee might be his best chance of adding to the tally this year, the trainer said at Leopardstown yesterday.

The former Flat jockey and two-time Derby-winning rider says his team will not be as strong as some sent from Owning Hill in recent years and but believes he has some nice prospects and that can prove competitive at the big meeting in March.

"I think we have some nice horses to go to war with for the spring festivals but I think we’ve taken stronger teams, and certainly bigger teams, before," said O'Brien.

"We’re really excited to go there and we’re looking forward to the week. The horses have ran well all season and we’re very pleased with where we are at this stage of the year.

“The spring festivals are very important and that’s what it’s all about so hopefully we can have a good second part of the season as well.”

What would have to happen for it to be a good week for Joseph O’Brien?

“A winner. We’ll take one and go and be happy with a winner.”

Race: Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle Odds: 5-1

He has a big chance in the Stayers’ Hurdle. Obviously, it’s a very competitive race now with a couple of horses springing into the market that were potentially going elsewhere up until recent weeks. He’s done nothing wrong all season.

Stamina is really his forte and he’s shown that this season. He ran quite well in the race last year (finishing sixth), he wasn’t beaten far, and obviously looks an improved horse this year.

You always hope for more, but I suppose when he won at Navan that was a surprise and it looks as though he’s taken a step forward and kind of proved that when he came back at Christmas time.

When we won at Navan we didn’t expect to beat Bob Olinger over two-and-a-half and that probably showed he was a better horse than the year before.

He proved that here at Christmas time and we think he’s a horse that likes to be fresh so the plan was to go straight to Cheltenham.

I think he’s just a year older and he won chasing and was a decent novice chaser but lost his way.

He came back over hurdles and we were in no man’s land a little bit and kind of feeling our way. He’s taken his form to the next level this season.

I think he has a good chance as any but there have been some impressive horses in that division in the last few weeks, or last month. It’s certainly looking a hot race but he’s in there with a good a chance as any at the moment.

Race: Turners Novices' Chase Odds: 6-1

It looks as though he’ll go up in trip now. He ran very well in the Irish Arkle, he finished strongly and really looked as though he was crying out for a bit further.

He’s a course winner at Cheltenham over hurdles and fences and we know he can perform there which is a big help.

Race: Ryanair Chase Odds: 8-1

We’ll see how Ascot goes first, it looks a really hot race this year. From there we’ll make a plan for Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown.

He’s still only an eight-year-old but he’s been around for a long time. The Ascot Chase is the plan and then he’ll be left in the Ryanair and the decision will be made late and we’ll speak to JP (McManus, owner) and Frank (Berry, Racing Manager) as to whether he’s going to Cheltenham or waits for Aintree.