Derby double target for O'Brien at Epsom

Not since Harry Wragg saddled Psidium to glory in 1961 has anyone managed to have ridden and trained winners of the most famous Flat race in the world.

Wragg was successful three times in the saddle, compared to O’Brien’s two wins, but the Irishman was forced to retire prematurely due to weight problems.

When he did call it a day at the tender age of 22, it came as no surprise due to his sizeable frame.

However, having ridden another 28 Group One winners on top of his two in the Epsom Classic on Camelot and Australia, he had managed to have an incredibly fruitful, albeit brief, career.

His father Aidan is the pre-eminent trainer of the day in Europe, so it is no shock O’Brien is already successful in his new career.

With a Group One win already in the bag through Intricately, the next aim is a Classic. And where better to start the trend than Epsom?

“I’ve never really thought about creating history or anything like that, to be honest,” said the 24-year-old.

“When you train racehorses it’s a 24-7 job, you don’t really get much time to think of things like that.

“You can’t allow yourself to, really, as you’d put too much pressure on yourself.”

While Rekindling, the mount of Wayne Lordan, may be a 20-1 shot, he heads to Epsom with better credentials than many in an open year.

Rekindling finished fourth in the Dante at York behind Mark Johnston’s Permian, and O’Brien is of the belief there is nothing to lose by running in the great race.

He said: “When you have a horse like him who has run well in traditionally the best trial in England, you have to have a go at the Derby. You never know how many times in your career you will have a legitimate Derby horse, you might not get one again.

“At the moment there is no stand-out contender and you wouldn’t be surprised if there was a 20-1 winner, but you can guarantee after the race there’ll be one (a stand-out contender). That’s what the Derby does, it produces champions. Something will come out of the woodwork.”

Nineteen horses have been declared with O’Brien junior’s father Aidan responsible for six runners.

O’Brien’s siblings will also have rides in the race for their father – his sister Ana rides The Anvil while brother Donnacha is on Venice Beach.

Meanwhile rank outsider Diore Lia will now be ridden by apprentice Paddy Pilley after the BHA deemed original rider Gina Mangan ineligible due to her inexperience.