Joseph O'Brien busy with a staggering total of 427 runners during third quarter

Joseph O'Brien had 117 more runners than his father during the third quarter of 2018 and was by far the busiest trainer in that three-month period, according to figures compiled by the Racing Post.

The 25-year-old Melbourne Cup-winning trainer is sitting second in the Irish Flat trainers' championship this season with 77 winners, while at the same time holding fourth position in the jumps table with 31 winners. His volume of runners has certainly helped him become Ireland's most prolific dual-purpose trainer.

O'Brien sent out a staggering 427 runners during July, August and September. Aidan, his Ballydoyle-based father, had only 310 runners over the same period. The two jumping superpowers were next on the list with Gordon Elliott saddling 305 runners and Willie Mullins 246.