THE Aidan O'Brien Group race express can gather even further steam at Leopardstown this afternoon where Catch The Blues can speed to victory in the Ballyogan Stakes.
Not since the ill-fated Mr Brooks, then trained by Kevin Connolly, won this five-furlong dash in 1991 has an Irish-trained horse put its nose in front here but with the revitalised Ballydoyle yard remorselessly churning out quality winners, the rot looks set to be stopped.
Catch The Blues would still be an attractive proposition today even if she didn't have AP O'Brien next to her name. The mare may have only won once last season, but she also put in noteworthy efforts in many of the top sprints, including a second in the Cork and Orrery and a third in the Haydock Sprint Cup.
Both those races were over six furlongs but it could be unwise to doubt Catch The Blues chance today because of the furlong shorter trip. Her one success last year did, after all, come in the Rockingham Handicap on good to firm ground and she proved she retains her enthusiasm when just beaten by Burden Of Proof.
Not surprisingly, Catch The Blues' biggest problems could come from the cross-channel raiders. Willie Muir runs Averti who ran fourth to Royal Applause in the Duke Of York Stakes last time but possibly even more dangerous could be Bolshoi, a quirky character who nevertheless ran extremely well despite meeting severe traffic problems to finish third to Croft Pool in last Monday's Temple Stakes at Sandown.
Overall however, Catch The Blues looks a more reliable proposition to continue O'Brien's and Christy Roche's purple patch.
The other black-type race on the card can go down the same familiar front. Heeremandi was described as highly strung but brilliant by O'Brien after she skated up on her debut at Fairyhouse and if she is to justify talk of a possible trip to Ascot for the Queen Mary, then the Royal Academy filly should win the Silver Flash Stakes.
Declan Gillespie's Curragh yard has been comparatively quiet this season but it, too, could find itself in double form today.
Poker-B won for Gillespie at Dundalk a month ago but his claims for the Sommerville Handicap were substantially advertised at the Curragh nine days ago when only just caught by Ministerial Model over a mile. That one went in again at Gowran on. Saturday and today's seven furlongs trip should be ideal for Poker-B.
Gunfire was a highly regarded two-year-old last season and despite the lack of inspiration provided by his only run this term, a distant seventh of eight to Casey Tibbs in the Ballysax, he should strip fitter for today's Milltown Handicap.
The opening Nutgrove Handicap looks to give Nordic Project the opportunity to quickly follow up his easy Gowran victory on Saturday but Token Gesture, a reasonable third to Dr Johonson at the Curragh, will make him work for it.
Moving On Up was an expensive loser here last Wednesday behind Red Affair and the latter's stable companion, Chania, is selected to upset him again in the Wexford Maiden, while Confidentiality is marginally preferred in the Clonskeagh Flat Race.
