Talk The Talk is an exciting young horse and one who has really come to the boil this season. A smart bumper type, his career has taken a serious step forward since switching yards from Stuart Crawford to Joseph O'Brien, and he now looks like a horse going places fast.
Lightly raced and still learning, the four-year-old has already shown enough to suggest there's plenty more under the bonnet.
Early days
Talk The Talk is a 70,000 Born To Sea gelding and a strong, scopey sort. He was produced early on by Stuart Crawford, who has long been trusted by Isaac Souede and Simon Munir with their double-green youngsters. The relationship between owner and trainer has been built up over a number of seasons and has paid dividends plenty of times.
Despite having just four runs to date, Talk The Talk is still quite raw. He's a big horse, still filling his frame, and you'd have to think he's nowhere near the finished article yet - which is what makes him so interesting going forward.
What he has done so far
Our first proper look at Talk The Talk came over hurdles at Limerick, where he really put his hand up. He beat the well-regarded Starting Fifteen fair and square and we got our first look at what this new Joseph O'Brien talent had in his locker. It was tough conditions in Limerick but he showed a good will and desire to win. That form has worked out well since, with Starting Fifteen going on to bolt up in a maiden hurdle back at Limerick over Christmas.
Off the back of that, he went to Fairyhouse for the Grade 3 Jack McInerney Memorial Hurdle and took another big step forward. He brushed aside Robert Tyner's much-talked-about I'm Slippy and then put manners on Murica, the Aintree Grade 1 juvenile hurdle winner, in good style. That win showed the Limerick form was no fluke and he was only going to progress even more
Next stop was the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, a race that's thrown up some serious horses over the years, including Facile Vega, Appreciate It and Sir Gerhard. Given a cool, patient ride by Sam Ewing, Talk The Talk travelled sweetly and cruised into the race. He looked set to go and win it when edging to the front, but a big leap at the last ended his chance just when he looked to have the race in his grasp.
More to come over hurdles?
That Grade 1 defeat is easy to put a line through. He was still learning on the job and looked every bit a top-class horse in the making. Joseph O'Brien has since said he's very, very excited about Talk The Talk's prospects this season and beyond - and it's easy to see why.
Still green, still strengthening, and clearly full of ability, Talk The Talk looks the type who'll keep improving with racing. He's firmly one to keep on the right side of as the season unfolds.
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