O'Brien the star attraction at Limerick The start of the new Flat season is somewhat overshadowed by Limerick's jumps meeting on Sunday as Derby-winning jockey Joseph O'Brien bypasses the Curragh in favour of a mount on Egyptian Warrior in the Family Fun Day Rated Novice Hurdle. Dual champion jockey O'Brien has had weight problems in recent times and while he recently mentioned a desire to ride over jumps, the move still comes as a surprise with the Flat season beginning on the same day. O'Brien's mount Egyptian Warrior has as yet failed to meet the expected high standard of his sire Galileo but has still won once on the Flat and twice over jumps. The JP McManus-owned gelding has his first race since October and faces nine opponents in a competitive event. Among O'Brien's rivals are, oddly, the John Magnier-owned Rogue Trader, while the race also features two Willie Mullins-trained runners in Sabremont, under Ruby Walsh, and Bosman Rule in the hands of Paul Townend. Elsewhere on the card, the Grade Two Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase is the feature event, with the Mouse Morris-trained Rule The World bidding to get back to winning ways. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding, who finished second to The New One in the 2013 Neptune Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, is a maiden over fences but appears to have solid claims on his recent form. A reproduction of his latest Navan Grade Three runner-up effort is likely to see him difficult to beat. The John Ryan-trained Draycott Place returns to the scene of his beginners chase win a fortnight ago and has a shout in the Liam Hogan Memorial Handicap Chase under 7lb claimer Ryan Treacy. By Tom Weekes
