Joseph O'Brien has insisted he will still be riding on the Flat this season despite riding over hurdles for the first time at Limerick on Saturday . The 21-year-old jockey rides Egyptian War , trained by his father Aidan and owned by JP McManus , in the Family Fun Day Rated Novices ’ Hurdle , . At the same time , the mounts on seven runners also trained by his father at The Curragh are shared between Ryan Moore and Joseph ’ s apprentice jockey younger siblings Ana and Donnacha . O ’ Brien , who is almost six feet tall , has admitted his time riding on the Flat is likely to be limited by weight issues . Joseph O'Brien poses with the Gold Cup after winning the race at Ascot last year . This latest news will increase speculation that the switch of codes is near at hand . In a statement , his father said : ‘ Joseph is a little heavy at the moment but plans to be back riding on the Flat shortly . He has his first ride over hurdles on Egyptian Warrior at Limerick on Sunday after which he will travel to the Curragh to ride work after racing. ’ Joseph , winner of two of the last three Derbies on Australia and Camelot , has a string of big race mounts potentially lined up for him with Gleneagles favourite for the 2,000 Guineas and JF Kennedy currently front runner of clutch of Derby possibles . Should Joseph have to turn his back permanently on the Flat , Moore , the three-time British champion , would be favourite to take more rides for his father ’ s stable . Teaforthree , the Rebecca Curtis-trained Grand National third in 2013 who got as far as The Chair last year when joint favourite last year , is out of next month ’ s race . Teaforthree clears the last fence on the way to victory at Bangor-on-Dee racecourse last month .
Joseph ##ton says he will ride on the Flat this weekend . The 21-year - old rode hurdles for the first time at Limerick last weekend . he admits his ride on the Flat is likely to be limited by weight issues .