Recently retired trainer Brendan Powell joins Joseph O'Brien's team

Brendan Powell has revealed he is joining Joseph O'Brien's team having announced his retirement from the training ranks earlier in the week.

Powell, who rode Rhyme ‘n’ Reason to win the 1988 National, sent out more than 600 winners as a dual-purpose trainer and enjoyed international success with Dark Emerald.

But he called time on his training career on Tuesday, citing financial pressure.

However, Powell will not be leaving the sport he loves, as he revealed on Sky Sports Racing on Sunday he is returning to his native Ireland to join Joseph O'Brien.

Powell, 58, said: "Joseph has a big yard and he's going places. I've had a few mornings there, and it's fantastically run with great staff.

"Joseph wants to spend more time in the yard so I'm going to go racing and look after owners and syndicates. I'll also be at the yard in the mornings to watch horses schooling.

"There will be a lot of racing, which I enjoy. It looks a fantastic opportunity. I never thought I'd go back to live in Ireland, as much as I love it there, because I've been here [in Britain] since 1977.

"I've got to an age where I need to do something where the pressure is off. I'm really looking forward to it."

O’Brien, 25, has been based in County Kilkenny since he was officially granted a trainer’s licence in June 2016, a couple of months after the end of his successful career as a jockey.

Joseph O'Brien has had plenty of big-race success, including Rekindling's Melbourne Cup win in 2017Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Running a dual-purpose stable, O’Brien quickly combined quantity of winners with quality, scooping a first Group 1 success within months of starting when Intricately won the Moyglare Stud Stakes. More was to follow in his second year as a trainer, with Rekindling memorably winning the Melbourne Cup at Flemington.

O’Brien continued his run of big-race success in 2018 with two Grade 1 wins at the inaugural Dublin Racing festival, including Edwulf’s remarkable Irish Gold Cup triumph, and a first Classic soon followed when Latrobe won the Irish Derby.

He officially became a Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer last month when Band Of Outlaws won the Fred Winter. Early Doors added a second festival success two days later.

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