RACING:IF CAMELOT is given the green light to run in Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe he will have a new rider on his back after regular jockey Joseph O'Brien was yesterday ruled out of riding the Derby and Guineas hero.
Three year olds in Longchamp’s all aged season feature carry 8st 11lb, a weight O’Brien hasn’t made in some time and Aidan O’Brien has confirmed his son will not be on board – if Camelot goes to France.
“Bar we cut off one of his arms he will not be on Camelot!” the champion trainer said yesterday. “9st or 8-13 is the lowest that Joseph will do, so that weight is not an option.”
The superstar three-year-old lost his unbeaten record when failing in a Triple Crown attempt in the St Leger but remains a best priced 6 to 1 to rehabilitate his reputation in a possible first clash with older horses at the weekend.
O’Brien said yesterday his running plans for the Arc won’t be finalised until tomorrow at the earliest. The Breeders’ Cup winner St Nicholas Abbey is a general 14 to 1 shot for another attempt at the €4 million highlight while Imperial Monarch also remains among the possibles.
The star German filly Danedream is a 4 to 1 joint-favourite in most ante-post lists with the Japanese hope Orfervre to become the first in 34 years to win the Arc in back-to-back years.
Sunday’s Arc card contains seven Group One races with the six main support races worth €2 million between them.
Irish plans will be firmed up during the week but Dermot Weld has already outlined plans to give his Ascot Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage a return to action in the Prix Du Cadran, a race also in John Oxx’s sights with Saddler’s Rock.
Oxx has the option of running Hasariya in the Prix Marcel Boussac for juvenile fillies while Eddie Lynam will hope ground conditions firm up at Longchamp for his star sprinter Sole Power in the Prix de l’Abbaye.
Dermot Weld has the option of running Big Break in the Boussac but the Curragh trainer has worries at the other side of the world after reporting his Melbourne Cup Galileo’s Choice to have had a bout of travel sickness after his trip down-under.
“They had a very tough flight, a very difficult landing, and a lot of problems with the facilities in quarantine when the horses landed. My fellow just spiked a temperature and initially had to have a few antibiotics but he seems to be responding rapidly,” Weld said.
Battle Of Marengo could bid to give Aidan O’Brien a seventh triumph in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster after his victory in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at the Curragh yesterday. Joseph O’Brien tracked the pacesetting Orgilgo Bay into the home straight before asking his mount to quicken a couple of furlongs down.
While the response was not electric in the testing conditions, Battle Of Marengo looked better the further he went and was good value for a 3½-length victory.
HOUSE RULES CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOFT CONDITIONS
CONDITIONS ARE set to be extremely testing for this evening's Grade Three feature at Roscommon and House Rules could be the best equipped to cope, writes Brian O'Connor.
Just five are due to line up for the Kilbegnet Novice Chase, topped by the prolific Baily Green who is aiming at five-in-a-row after a defeat of Domination over hurdles at Killarney last time but will hardly be suited by the going.
Dylan Ross is a newcomer to fences and although high class over hurdles, he didn't always look the most straight-forward.
House Rules also won at Killarney on his previous start and although he has shown his best form on a sounder surface he also has winning form on the soft.
Officials at Roscommon Roscommon will stage an 8.00 inspection this morning. The ground was raceable yesterday with the going described as heavy on the chase course. Conditions should be testing enough for the wide-margin Fairyhouse winner Salacious Sally to defy an 8lb hike in the apprentice handicap.
Dessie Hughes has his string in good form and Art Of Logistics can get the better of Sitcom in the bumper.
