Chester Cup-winner O'Brien lands Ballinrobe's opener Today’s Chester Cup-winning trainer Joseph O’Brien completed a two-countries double today, as his Personified (5/2) landed Ballinrobe’s opening Harrington Concrete & Quarries Optional Claiming Race under jockey Ronan Whelan. Initially held up in mid-division, the 68-rated daughter of Starspangledbanner went clear of her rivals in the final furlong, to score by 2.75 lengths from stablemate Teologia . All three of O’Brien’s western runners were not eligible to be claimed and afterwards winning jockey Whelan reported “out of Joseph's three in the race, I was happy to see my name down beside her, as her last run had been encouraging. "I was a little further back than I wanted to be because she wasn't that sharp from the gates, but from halfway down the back I was pretty confident. The step up in trip on nicer ground really suited her, it's beautiful ground here this evening and I think a mile-and-a-quarter on a stiff track might bring about a bit more improvement. "It's nice to get a bracket for her." O'Brien had earlier landed the Chester Cup with the Dylan Browne McMonagle-partnered A Piece Of Heaven . Ninth-placed Divilment was later claimed by trainer Bill Durkan for €5,000. Quotes from Mark Nunan
