Joseph O'Brien looks set to receive his trainer's licence at the end of this week which in theory should allow him to saddle runners in his own name as early as next Monday. The 23-year-old former champion jockey is based at Owning, Co. Kilkenny, the same facility from where his father Aidan dominated the Irish jumps trainers championship in the mid-nineties. “He will come up to the licensing committee on Friday. They will interview him and I imagine they will sanction his licence,” said Turf Club press officer Cliff Noone. “They have already inspected his premises and they were found to be in perfect shape. The final step is him getting his license and I would think that would be Friday afternoon,” added Noone. Soon after Joseph O'Brien could well be represented by his first Royal Ascot runners. Lundy (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) who O'Brien trains for longtime Coolmore advisor Demi O'Byrne and Ambiguity (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) who carries his mother Anne-Marie's colours, could be pointed towards different juvenile contests at the Royal meeting. “I haven't finalised plans for Royal Ascot yet but we are looking at aiming Lundy at the [G2] Coventry S. [June 14],” said O'Brien. “Ambiguity will probably also travel over and could run in either the [G2] Norfolk or the [Listed] Windsor Castle,” he added.
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