THIS is the fourth year of the study tour of a group of Japanese work riders, jockeys and assistant trainers to Ireland. There are 14 in this year’s group which arrived into Ireland last Monday with a planned stay of six days.

Day one included a morning on the gallops with Joseph O’Brien at his Owning Hill base where he was assisted by his National Hunt jockey J.J. Slevin. The group got an excellent insight into Joseph’s training regime and how relaxed the whole operation is.