Five-timer for O'Brien

Joseph O’Brien rode four of his father’s five winners

Trainer Aidan O’Brien saddled a 68/1 five-timer at Leopardstown on Thursday evening, with son Joseph riding four of them.

O’Brien had just five runners on the card and struck gold with each of them, 4/5 favourite Lieutenent General getting off the mark at the fourth time of asking to set the ball rolling.

“I would be disappointed if he didn’t pick up a group race on the way, and he could be more,” rider Joseph said, in the absence of his father. “I think he will progress.”

Joseph was again on board the winner of the next race as The Crewmaster built on the debut promise he’d shown at the Galway Festival, winning the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Maiden at odds of 4/6 in the style of a horse who will improve again over another two furlongs.

Seamie Heffernan took over to keep the bandwagon rolling as Fields Of Athenry won the feature Ballyroan Stakes, again as a well-supported favourite at 8/15.

The Galileo colt was back to a mile and a half having won over 14 furlongs previously but may return to the former trip for the Ladbrokes St Leger, for which he was cut to 8/1 from 12s by Sky Bet.

Shortly afterwards, Ivanovich Gorbatov made a mockery of his opening handicap mark to win in first-time blinkers at odds of 11/4, again as favourite, before newcomer Hallmark rounded off proceedings with a stylish success in the concluding maiden.

A £10 five-fold on the O’Brien quintent returned £690.