Joseph O’Brien looks to put Curragh weight struggle behind him

Joseph O’Brien’s struggles with weight on the flat – and his first foray into riding over jumps – have dominated headlines in the past week so a cross-code weekend looks apt for the former champion jockey.

The 21-year-old has a second ride over flights on board Marchese Marconi at Fairyhouse on Sunday but before that has two rides back on the flat at Cork.

East India is due to carry 9.6 in a conditions event, while Hans Holbein has 9.5 in a 10-furlong maiden, the same weight O’Brien was unable to make at the Curragh last weekend.

O’Brien doesn’t ride in today’s Listed feature at Cork, the Noblesse Stakes, where the lightly raced Massinga could be the one best equipped to cope with testing ground conditions.

Her stable companion Summaya had a lot go wrong for her on her debut last year and first-time blinkers could make a difference against Hans Holbein.