O'Brien emulates father as Tigris roars home in richest race
Richard Forristal witnesses history repeat itself at Ballybrit
As an incessant downpour sent the evanescent ladies' day glam scurrying in all directions for cover, Joseph O'Brien soaked it all up as the sodden hacks converged on him like moths round a flame.
It might have been gunfire cascading down from the helicopters that swarm once again over Ballybrit and he wouldn't have felt it. He stood there, bulletproof, bearing the warm glow of a child who went to bed one August night only to awake on Christmas morning. Made up.
Three years after O'Brien partnered Tigris River to victory over the reigning Champion Chaser Special Tiara in a Killarney maiden, he welcomed 'Tigger' back after a thrilling last-gasp triumph under Barry Geraghty in the most valuable hurdle race in the land.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on 3 August 2017inGrand National festival
Last updated 16:25, 5 August 2017
Copy- 'They had no chance and kept others out' - Davy Russell believes qualifying races for the Grand National should be introduced
- Bookmakers report Grand National turnover as 'flat' compared with last year
- 'It's a different feeling, it's unique, it's the Grand National' - Aintree hero I Am Maximus gets a huge homecoming welcome
- 'It's going to be hard to get off this high' - David Maxwell dreaming of Aintree return following Grand National sixth
- 'We knew this would be the case' - earlier start time behind drop in viewing figures for Grand National says ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin
- 'They had no chance and kept others out' - Davy Russell believes qualifying races for the Grand National should be introduced
- Bookmakers report Grand National turnover as 'flat' compared with last year
- 'It's a different feeling, it's unique, it's the Grand National' - Aintree hero I Am Maximus gets a huge homecoming welcome
- 'It's going to be hard to get off this high' - David Maxwell dreaming of Aintree return following Grand National sixth
- 'We knew this would be the case' - earlier start time behind drop in viewing figures for Grand National says ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin