18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure

Punchestown 2024

Punchestown Cards

Punchestown Tips

Punchestown Offers

Punchestown 2024

'Soft ground' to blame for Shogun defeat

Sun 23rd Aug 2015, 17:13

Shogun Shogun
© Photo Healy Racing

Champion Trainer Aidan O'Brien is hopeful his Futurity Stakes disappointment Shogun can still make the step up to Group 1 level, blaming today's soft ground for his defeat.

O'Brien stated "Joseph (O'Brien, jockey) knew after two furlongs that he was in trouble on the ground.

"I felt that mentally the run would do him good and, with that run under his belt, he could make the step up to run in a Group 1 on nice ground."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee

Jockeys Trainers Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien

Latest Stories which may interest you

'Six falls in a car park, he put three in hospital' - tricky Esticky wins

Racing’s rowdiest horse Esticky End (16/1) concluded a two-and-a-half-year wait for success today, as he maintained three-horse trainer Tom McGuinness’ hot streak in landing Dundalk’s HRI Best Turned-Out Flat League Handicap.

Joseph O'Brien is Dundalk's leading trainer of 2024

Trainer Joseph O'Brien today ended 2024 as Dundalk’s leading trainer, as he gained the accolade for the sixth time following the final-race success of San Andreas in the concluding Horse Racing Returns To Dundalk Friday 10th January 2025 Handicap.

Uplifting win for Windbeneathmywings’ trainer Flynn

Windbeneathmywings’ former handler Pat Flynn was on the mark in a bitter-sweet day for the trainer at Dundalk this evening, as his Gallo Dell Cielo (4/1) landed the HRI Best Turned-Out Flat League Handicap (Div I).

Rookie trainer Thorne records second Dundalk double

Rookie trainer Stephen Thorne registered a second double today, as he again combined with his principal owners Shamrock Thoroughbreds to win the Botanica International Apprentice Rated Race with first-time-blinkered Perfect Judgement (6/1).