Racing News and preview: Azamour will carve his own bit of racing history if he can become just the fourth horse to complete the Champion Stakes double at Newmarket on Saturday.
John Oxx gave an upbeat bulletin on the Aga Khan-owned colt yesterday ahead of this morning's 48 hour declaration stage and said he doubted if this end of season Group O ne prize will be a race too far for Azamour.
"It is at the end of the season but I would be surprised if we are blaming the effects of a hard season if he runs badly," he said.
"He hasn't had too many races and there have been nice spaces between them. He had a good interval between Ascot and York and he certainly appears to be fresh and well and in good shape," Oxx added.
The Curragh trainer tried to bring off the Irish-Newmarket Champion Stakes double with Timarida in 1996 but that filly failed behind Bosra Sham.
Only three horses have managed to win at both Leopardstown and Newmarket and that trio were older horses. Pilsudski in 1997 was the last and the fillies, Indian Skimmer (1988) and Triptych (1987) also brought off the prestigious double.
Oxx's focus now, however, is on the weather at Newmarket and the trainer appears resigned to the going being less than ideal for the fast ground loving Azamour.
"They could get about five to six millimetres of rain overnight and that could change it a bit. They seem to be expecting it on the slow side of good and with showers around it won't dry much.
"If we're lucky we'll have good fast ground and if it's good we'll be doing well. But if it's on the slow side of good we are prepared to run on that. The Guineas was run on that type of ground," he said.
Oxx and Michael Kinane will also be represented on "Champions Day" by both Caradak in the Challenge Stakes and the Curragh Cup winner Mkuzi who takes his first chance over two miles in the Jockey Club Cup.
The Irish challenge on Newmarket's three-day meeting begins today with the Eddie Lynam-trained filly Dangle taking her chance in the Listed Boadicea Stakes.
Aidan O'Brien is likely to take his chance in the Champion Stakes with Mingun but the Ballydoyle trainer has also left in a significant runner in Sunday's Birdcatcher Premier Nursery at Naas.
The 113-rated Russian Blue, Group One placed three times this year, has been allotted 10.1 in the six furlong race and is rated a stone and more ahead of the 20 other entries.
John Oxx sends the Sadler's Wells filly Purple Spirit to Tramore this afternoon for the mile and a half maiden and Cathy Gannon looks set to score another winner in her relentless pursuit of the apprentice title.
Unseasonal quick ground is being forecast for Tramore and although Purple Spirit's last effort was a second to Loyal Focus on bottomless ground at Listowel, she did okay on a faster surface on her debut.
Eglinton returns for the mile and a half handicap but preference is for Urban Dream if he can repeat a Down Royal second on fast ground.
Precious Cargo started a hot favourite in a bumper at Ballinrobe in August but managed only fifth behind Lorna's Star. He can prove he is better than that in the opener.
