Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Racing Correspondent

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column.

Shane Foley insists his Champion Stakes-winning ride not ‘as bad as they are making out’

Jockey got 11-day suspension for his riding on board Hotazhell in Leopardstown highlight

Shane Foley’s Champion Stakes ride slammed as ‘brutal riding’ by Donnacha O’Brien

O’Brien supplies Billy Loughnane with first winner in Ireland as Comanche Brave lands Flying Five in style

Scandinavia highlights Aidan O’Brien Group One double with Irish Leger victory

Trainer reveals Ballydoyle team has been dealing with ‘very low-grade infection’ in recent months

Jessica Harrington beats the odds with Champion success for Hotazhell

Saffie Osborne becomes first woman to ride an English classic winner as Highwayman leads Joseph O’Brien 1-2 in St Leger

Joseph O’Brien set to underline rising status as his father’s main rival

Aidan and his son have six of the 11 runners in world’s oldest Classic at Doncaster

Coolmore and Juddmonte superpowers face off in Irish Champions Festival

Controversial French jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot has handful of Ballydoyle rides on just second time to ride in Ireland

Racing needs will to implement the rule book when it comes to pacemakers

Issue continues to blight the complexion of too many elite races

Constitution River joined by Derby hero Lambourn and Hawk Mountain in Champion Stakes mix

Potential rematch with Item and Almaqam on the cards for O’Brien star in €1.25 million Irish Champions Festival highlight

Grand National-winning trainer Emmet Mullins to take over Jim Bolger’s Coolcullen yard

‘I’ve always wanted to see a young trainer get the place,’ says champion trainer Bolger (84)

Leopardstown boss hopeful of good ground and a big crowd at Champions Festival

Going could decide the opposition Constitution River faces in the Champion Stakes

Bumper Group One weekend could see Aidan O’Brien regain top-flight momentum

Christmas Day tops betting for Doncaster St Leger dominated by Aidan and Joseph O’Brien

Erdenali is Europe’s latest Group One gelding as Graffard dominates Arc Trials day

Daryz is 9-4 favourite to defend Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe crown and could be joined by other Aga Khan star Varandir

Irish hopefuls racing for Premier League money at Kentucky Downs

Former Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill takes on stiffest flat task to date at Kempton

Jim Bolger’s Sparan Nua bids for Group One glory on Arc-Trials Day

Top miler Gstaad aiming to make most of Bow Echo’s absence in €800,000 Prix Du Moulin

Arc de Triomphe’s stallion-making status is already largely lost

The decision to admit geldings to Europe’s richest race has angered purists, but commercial reality upended it long ago

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