RACING: The luckless Powerscourt has been ruled out of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe due to a muscle problem.
Aidan O'Brien's sole Group One winner of the year has had a topsy-turvy season; winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May, but also being ruled out of first place by the stewards in the Arlington Million.
He looked to have run a sound Arc trial by finishing third in the Irish Champion Stakes but O'Brien said yesterday: "He has pulled a muscle on his near-hind side and was a bit off this morning. I don't know if he will run again this season. We will give him a rest now and he won't be running in the Arc."
O'Brien has half of the 16-strong entry left in Sunday's Dunnes Stores National Stakes at yesterday's forfeit stage but last weekend's impressive winner Tiger Dance is unlikely to make a quick reappearance.
"It's more likely he won't run but no decisions have been taken yet because we want to see what the weather does. Russian Blue is a definite possible and Al Valorem is a possible along with Rowan Tree and Scandinavia. We will probably run more than one," he said.
Godolphin have supplemented the unbeaten Dubawi into the race at a cost of 30,000 and Cashmans bookmakers reacted by making the colt an evens favourite.
The ground at the Curragh is "good" after 5.7 millimetres of rain on Monday night but there is a chance of more rain later in the week. "Thundery showers are forecast on Thursday and Friday but it's a question of where they land. It's perfect good ground at the moment and we will monitor things," said Curragh manager Paul Hensey.
A total of 24 fillies have been left in the Group Two Irish National Stud Blandford Stakes including John Oxx's Hazarista who ran third in both the Irish Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks. The Ballydoyle team have left the Epsom Oaks runner-up All Too Beautiful as well as Baraka.
O'Brien also had news of his challenge for Saturday's Irish Field St Leger. He has left in seven three-year-olds, although Brian Boru remains the most likely stable representative. Two Miles West is a possible starter if the ground is on the easy side.
NATIONAL STAKES BETTING
Cashmans: evens Dubawi, 11-4 Aidan O'Brien stable, 6 Democratic Deficit, 7 Berenson, 10 Wilko, 12 Elusive Double, 14 Laudable, 50 bar.
