ROYAL Ascot-winning trainer Eoghan O’Neill has returned home to operate a base in Ireland after calling time on his spell of almost a decade and a half in France.

The Celbridge, Co Kildare native, who spent time working with Robert Collet, Sir Mark Prescott and John Gosden before beginning to saddle runners in his own name in 1999, recorded 230 winners over his last dozen seasons in France, having previously notched over 140 victories in Britain.

Despite having registered Group-race wins in Ireland, Britain, Germany and France, arguably his most memorable success came in the 2015 Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot when Suits You caused a minor upset. In 2007, he sent out Vital Equine to finish second in the 2000 Guineas at 33/1.

O’Neill saddled his first runner since returning to Ireland last week at Naas and runs two more at Navan on Saturday, Ferrari Desert (2.55) and Hallowed Time (3.30).

“I’m now training under an Irish licence, it’s a recent move in the last few weeks,” O’Neill told The Irish Field.

“We bought a property on the Curragh a couple of years ago and developed it. I always had it in my mind to come back home - it just took a bit longer than I thought. My family moved back here seven years ago and it took a while to find a suitable property to buy.

“We bought Barry Connell’s place in Maddenstown and it took some time to finalise planning permission and so forth. Then we had to sell the training centre in France, so there were just lots of hurdles to jump over and we had to do it properly.

“We’ve got about 40 horses. It’d be nice to have a winner over here before long but it’ll all happen in due course. Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s nice to have a fresh start.”

On his Saturday runners, O’Neill added: “Ferrari Desert didn’t really go forward last year and had just one run [when down the field in a mile maiden]. She works okay but will probably need the run.

“Hallowed Time was a bit disappointing last year, having been progressive the year before. He’s a bigger, stronger horse now but he’ll also probably need the run. It’s his first start since September.”