RACING: Frankie Dettori will team up with the veteran trainer Paddy Mullins and ride Vintage Tipple in Sunday's Darley Irish Oaks.
The Italian star was booked by Mullins yesterday after the original first choice jockey Jamie Spencer was committed to riding in Britain on Sunday afternoon.
"We couldn't get Jamie so we got in touch with Frankie Dettori who said he would be delighted to ride the filly," said Mullins's son Tom.
Dettori is already an Irish Oaks winner having won on Lailani two years ago. He was committed to riding at the Curragh after being booked to ride the Mark Johnston trained Leicester Square in the Anglesey Stakes.
Despite that however the ante-post market support continued to come for the favourite Yesterday who has been cut to 13 to 8 from 7 to 4 by Paddy Power.
The Aidan O'Brien trained filly is already a classic winner in the Irish 1,000 Guineas but it is 24 years (Godetia in 1979) since the double has been completed.
There are a pair of fixtures tonight but already there is some controversy over Wexford where the chase races have been abandoned due to the state of the ground. Two of the hurdle races and the bumper have been divided to fill out the card.
The abandonment was only revealed yesterday morning after an examination of the course to determine a going forecast.
The Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan said yesterday: "The going down there has been considered unsuitable due to the recent dry weather. We are concerned about certain parts of the ground."
The hurdles course however has not been affected and that will be good news for the Co Wicklow trainer Philip Rothwell who looks to hold good chances with Fairwood Present and Princess Button in the second division of the maiden hurdle.
The better betting opportunities might come in the bumpers however. Christy Roche gives Galtee View a third start and this one looks to have an ideal opportunity to make it third time lucky.
The Willie Mullins horse could be Galtee View's biggest danger but the Mullins team do look to have the winning of the first division with the Limerick runner-up Major Burns.
It's not often a horse reverts successfully from steeplechasing to the flat but off a 49 rating Le-Monde is one to look at in tonight's 14 furlong handicap at Navan.
David Wachman gives the ex-Ballydoyle inmate Buffalo Bill a start in the two mile maiden hurdle and the horse should have too much for Swordlestown.
Heart Midlotian brings a 121 rating to the conditions hurdle party and is on a hat-trick after chase victories at both Punchestown and Fairyhouse in April.
The form of Rosehall Girl's win at Ballinrobe looks the key part of the opening sprint handicap and maybe the Cork winner Rathgowney Lad can come out on top this time.
