Joseph O'Brien tastes Irish Derby success at the Curragh

Joseph O’Brien claimed a first ever Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby success on Saturday evening at the Curragh when outsider Latrobe edged to victory in Ireland’s oldest horse race.

The young trainer’s glowing CV now has another serious achievement to add to it after his younger brother Donnacha rode the three-year-old superbly to finish half a length ahead of Rostropovich, a horse trained by father Aidan O’Brien.

Finishing a neck further back in third was another horse trained by Aidan O’Brien, the favourite Saxon Warrior who never lived up to his billing despite some heavy backing for him in the ring beforehand.

There was one local winner on the biggest day of the year at the Curragh, with trainer Jessica Harrington watching on as I’m so Fancy stormed to victory in the Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes.

“She won very well here the last time and I was taking a little bit of a chance dropping her back to a mile,” said Harrington afterwards.

“She had been running very well over a mile last year.

“They went very hard up front which suited her. She’s improving all the time and aged four she’s come to life.”