Businessman Denis O'Brien registers first win as owner Famous billionaire business figure Denis O’Brien registered a first winner as an owner at Wexford today, combining with trainer Edward O’Grady to land the Support The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Hurdle with Our Soldier (7/1). O’Brien, 67 and founder of telecom company Digicel in 2001, ventured into horse ownership having purchased his first runner, today’s winner Our Soldier, for €25,000 at the Tattersalls Derby Sale in June 2022. Placed in three of six previous starts, Our Soldier was today ridden by Philip Enright and having gone clear of his rivals at the second-last, was threatened in the closing stages by Duke Silver, but held on for a three-parts of a length success. Former champion trainer O'Grady, with 18 Cheltenham festival winners, revealed “it's the first horse I've had for Denis O'Brien so I'm very pleased. I've been trying to get him to buy some more horses, but to no avail yet." "Our Solider is a nice stayer-come chaser in the making. I think ground is important to him, as he likes the better ground.” O’Brien’s father and namesake had been involved in the horse nutrition industry and founded Plusvital. Quotes from Donal Murphy
