DERBY HERO WARRIOR ON WAY BACK

Ian Fortune

We caught up with Jennifer O’Donnell at Kilkenny on Sunday night and she confirmed that her Derby champion Born Warrior was on the way back after a superb sprint trial at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night ahead of racing.

Moving with real fluency, the sensational son of Ballymac Best posted a fast 18.57 but the most pleasing thing for Jennifer was the way in which he moved into the pick-up and how he was after the trial.

She confirmed that he had been failing to see out 525yds in his races and trials earlier in the year and later found a thyroid problem. He has reacted well to treatment and is now rearing to go. The plan is a couple of races at HQ before attempting to defend his Derby crown.