There is free admission to the Curragh for the final fixture of 2006 at headquarters this afternoon and those taking up the offer could witness an unlikely Breeders' Cup hint from Art Museum, writes Brian O'Connor.
This season has been a bitter anti-climax for the Storm Cat colt who was one of the leading fancies for the 2,000 Guineas in the Spring. However, a series of problems meant it was the autumn before Aidan O'Brien could get him back to the track with a victory at Cork that set him up for the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket nine days ago. Art Museum wasn't beaten that far in the Group Two race and the winner, Sleeping Indian, is now being considered for the Breeders' Cup Mile in 12 days time.
Today's mile conditions event looks a relatively straightforward task for a 108-rated colt that should still be improving after an interrupted campaign. Michael Kinane gets back from Canada in time for the seven-furlong maiden where he is due to ride the well-bred Erdeli.
However, there was a lot to like about last week's Navan debut from Spanish Harlem, a son of the Guineas winner Sleepytime who was nicely supported on his first start, and who can show the benefit of that effort now.