O'Brien can up ante in title bid

THERE MAY be just two more meetings left in the 2010 flat season but anyone writing off Joseph O’Brien’s chances of winning the apprentice title could get a rude awakening at Dundalk this afternoon.

Aidan O’Brien’s teenage son is four behind his rivals Gary Carroll and Ben Curtis but has five choice rides today including a strongly-fancied pair of Ballydoyle two-year-olds. The 97-rated Alexander Pope has the mile conditions event at his mercy on figures while Pirate Chest also looks to have solid claims for the opening mile maiden.

O’Brien has also picked up the ride on Tony Martin’s Cambridgeshire third Pires in the finale and this trip should be fine for a six-year-old who missed out on an engagement here on Sunday due to the road conditions.

Pat Smullen is all but assured of a sixth jockeys’ title and goes into today’s action with a six-winner lead over Fran Berry (93-87.) He also looks to have a good shout in the 10-furlong handicap on the course and distance winner Hawa Bali.

Berry, though, can go one better this afternoon with Dahindar moving back up to a mile and Lightening Stricks now rated outside the conditions of the mile conditions event after a seven-length success at the weekend.

Johnny Murtagh faces a busy end to 2010 as he rides in a Jockeys’ Challenge at Hong Kong’s Happy Valley track today before returning to finish the Irish flat season at Dundalk on Friday.

The current champion jockey has been in worldwide action since resigning from the position as number one rider to the Coolmore organisation last month and rode in another jockeys challenge in Japan a couple of weeks ago.

Today he will be in action against the top American-based rider, Julien Leparoux, as well as the French jockeys, Oliver Peslier and Christophe Lemaire, and the former British champion, Ryan Moore.

Murtagh has ridden 86 winners in Ireland in 2010.