Sport

O'Brien cut for jockeys' title

RACING: JOSEPH O’BRIEN has been cut in the betting for the Irish Flat jockeys’ championship following the news that changes …

Fri Mar 23 2012 - 00:00

RACING:JOSEPH O'BRIEN has been cut in the betting for the Irish Flat jockeys' championship following the news that changes to the minimum weight carried by horses will come into effect at the Curragh on Sunday.

The changes follow a medical submission received by Horse Racing Ireland from Dr Adrian McGoldrick, chief medical officer of the Turf Club.

Explaining the weight changes and the process which led to it, Dr McGoldrick said: “I met with the Jockeys’ Association three months ago and we discussed what to do in relation to maidens, handicaps and black type races and apprentice races.

“I then went to the trainers’ association and they came back agreeing with what I proposed. Then I went to the HRI and the Turf Club and they took it on board.

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“They backed everything apart from the apprentice weights and I am having another look at that. We’ve agreed that all maiden races will be 9st and 9st 5lb. The handicap scale will start from 10st downwards and condition races will have a minimum weight of 9st wherever possible.

“The changes will be implemented this weekend at the Curragh, but there is a fillies’ race there where conditions had already been advertised before we got agreement.

“Over the next couple of weeks the new system will wash in and certainly by mid-May I would expect it will be totally in place.”

O’Brien is now a 7 to 2 chance with Stan James to be crowned champion jockey behind even-money favourite Johnny Murtagh and 11 to 8 chance Pat Smullen.

Joseph Burke, spokesman for Stan James Ireland, said: “The rise in the minimum weights for Irish Flat races, coupled with the fact that Ballydoyle have not announced a replacement stable jockey and appear to be using Joseph O’Brien as their number one, means he has an excellent chance of adding a senior to his apprentice title.”

Speaking to the Irish Field, Andrew Coonan of the Jockeys’ Association said: “The weight review came about as a result of Dr Adrian McGoldrick’s in-depth knowledge and on-going work in the area of racing weights and jockeys’ health.

“He has worked very closely with all parties including a cross section of jockeys and trainers, together with the Turf Club and HRI.

“The changes will go a long way to easing the constant struggle that jockeys have with weight management on a daily basis.”