We are more then three months into the flat season and there are some interesting observations to be made on the domestic front.

No surprise that Aidan O’Brien is top of the trainer table and in fact, with 52 winners so far, he is marginally ahead of where he was at the corresponding stage of the last three seasons.

However, his eldest son Joseph will not be happy with his strike-rate so far. As of the first week in July, Joseph has had 27 winners, compared to 43, 44 and 38 at this time in the past three years.

True, he has had fewer runners this year but that doesn’t fully explain the dip in form.

In his short career to-date, (he only started training in 2016) Joseph has already won two Melbourne Cups, a Breeders’ Cup and Group 1 races in Ireland, Britain and France, so it goes without saying his standards are high, as are the racing public’s expectations.

Meanwhile, Ger Lyons is enjoying an excellent time. His 29 winners is more than double his tally at this stage in 2023 and more or less the same as he had in 2022 – but this time he has done it with fewer runners.

Dermot Weld made a slow start to the season but the yard is firing in plenty of winners lately, though he suffered a bad blow last weekend when news broke that his Epsom Oaks winner Ezeliya has been prematurely retired from racing following a setback in training.

On the jockeys’ front, it looks at first glance as if we are in for another epic battle between reigning champ Colin Keane and his great rival Billy Lee. The pair were neck-and-neck for much of last season before Keane drew clear in the final days to claim his fifth title.

Interestingly, both Keane (49 winners) and Lee (46) are well ahead of where they were at this time 12 months ago, in terms of winners.

Exactly a year ago Lee was on 30 winners, two ahead of Keane. The fact that Ger Lyons’ stable, which employs Keane, is in much better form this year suggests that he won’t be easily dethroned.

A few apprentice jockeys to note are Adam Caffrey, Wesley Joyce and James Ryan.

Caffrey works for Co Dublin trainer Ado McGuinness, Joyce is back with Co Meath’s Mick Mulvaney, having left Johnny Murtagh’s yard, and James Ryan is based with Ger Lyons, also in Meath.

In Britain, Tipperary teenager Sean Bowen is making a big impression in the riding ranks.

Nephew of Hotel Minella co-owner John Nallen, Bowen is in the running to be Britain’s champion apprentice this season and is one to follow.