‘The best I’ve ever trained’: How winning pointer has enjoyed a new lease of life *H&H Plus*

Trainer Joseph O’Shea bagged a double at Kimble

Joseph O’Shea enjoyed a double at Kimble, kicking off with the second division of the maiden six-year-old and over with Ballymac Boy – a six-year-old by Scorpion – who, despite a “dreadful mistake” with a circuit to go, stormed home in front under Huw Edwards.

“We paid £9,500 for him at the Doncaster sales last July. He was a typical Irish horse and under nourished,” explained Joseph. “We got him home, turned him out, brought him in at night and gave him loads of TLC. After a week, he never stopped eating. He was amazing by the time we got him to the races.”

Joseph has the Stratford finals in mind for the gelding. “He’s better than a maiden, so we’ll just make the most of him now,” he said. “He’ll go through the grades and the intermediate final will be his aim.”

Adrian Spender’s 12-year-old Ravished gave Joseph his second win of the day in an impressive performance under Gina Andrews.

“I told Gina to jump off and get in a good position, then kick on proper a mile from home, and that’s exactly what she did,” said Joseph. “It was a pleasure to watch.”

The gelding, by Oscar, has had a new lease of life since arriving at Joseph’s.

“When he goes on the gallops, he’s like a spring chicken,” said Joseph. “He’s not the big chaser type we usually buy, but he carries me every day and I’m 13½ stone, so carrying 11 stone in a race, he thinks he’s running free.”

Joseph uses the local countryside to train his horses. “We don’t have fancy gallops, so we take them to the beach and ride over the 800-acre estate that we live next to,” he said. “He never does two days the same and it’s sweetened him up unbelievably. He’ll be aimed at Cheltenham and Aintree. I’ve had some good horses, but this is the best I’ve ever trained.”

Ref Horse & Hound; 12 November 2020