Joseph O’Brien has achieved so much in such a short career. At just 31, the son of esteemed handler Aidan O’Brien has ridden winners in some of the biggest races in the world—including the prestigious Epsom Derby—and has since achieved landmark success all over the globe as a trainer.
Saddling two Melbourne Cup champions and a couple of Classic winners on the flat, O’Brien has also enjoyed success in the National Hunt racing sphere—with the JP McManus-owned Fakir D’oudairies notably winning three Grade 1s.
The Irish trainer has a relatively small stable of jumps horses compared to his rivals at Cheltenham, but it’s powerful, and he has several big chances heading into the 2025 renewal of the Festival. That said, let’s take a look at some of his stars.
Banbridge – Gold Cup
Where better to start than with the feature race of the entire meeting? A win here would be the biggest of O’Brien’s National Hunt career, and he has a solid chance with Banbridge.
As the 4/1 second favourite in the Cheltenham Gold Cup odds, Banbridge is theoretically the chief danger to the hat-trick-seeking Galopin Des Champs.
A classy chaser, the nine-year-old picked up a third career Grade 1 in the prestigious King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day—chasing down Il Est Francais to win by almost two lengths.
The additional two-and-a-half furlongs of the Gold Cup will be unfamiliar territory for Banbridge, but he should stay and could push Galopin Des Champs all the way on March 14.
Solness – Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is another of the Cheltenham Festival’s championship races, and Solness could be in with a shout for O’Brien.
The Bronsan Racing-owned horse is just seven but has a wealth of chasing experience with 17 runs over the larger obstacles, and has taken his career to new heights in his last couple of outings.
Solness caused a massive upset at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival when winning the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase before following up back at the track in the top-level Dublin Chase.
That is solid form heading into the Champion Chase, and he could be in contention looking at the form of some of his main challengers.
Home By The Lee – Stayers’ Hurdle
Sticking with the championship contests, Home By The Lee is another who could test the favourite’s mettle in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Last year’s winner, Teahupoo, is the odds-on favourite to defend his crown, but Home By The Lee is poised dangerously to strike at second in the market.
The 10-year-old has been in fine form so far this season, winning the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle on reappearance before landing the Grade 1 Savills Hurdle in convincing fashion last time out.
The manor in which he stayed on and won going away at Leopardstown is perhaps proof that he can battle Teahupoo up the Cheltenham hill in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Naturally Nimble and Busselton, who are both 8/1 in the horse racing betting odds for the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and the Cross Country Chase, respectively, are a couple of O’Brien’s other potential entries to note.
Suzanne: BA (Hons) in Marketing Management, Diploma in Equine Studies, B.E.M.A Member. An entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in marketing, publishing, content curation, editing, and media writing. Avid equestrian, riding since the age of 5 and owning horses for over 35 years. Proud mum to humans, dogs, and a horse.