John Oxx's main priority at the moment may be getting Sinndar to Epsom but even the Derby candidate will take a back seat on Wednesday night when the Gold Cup winner Enzeli returns to action in Leopardstown's Savel Beg Stakes.
Enzeli won the 14-furlong Listed event en route to his 20 to 1 victory at Royal Ascot last year and Oxx yesterday confirmed the Aga Khan-owned horse as a definite runner for a repeat bid.
"He would like top of the ground but he will run in the Savel Beg regardless. Hopefully, it won't be too soft even though rain is on the way," said Oxx. Enzeli hasn't run since finishing fourth of five to Kayf Tara in the Irish St Leger.
As for Sinndar, Oxx reported: "He's very well and fingers crossed we can get him to Epsom in good shape. It's quite an anxious time."
The Gowran winner Islandagore will be the Oxx runner in the Entenmann's 1,000 Guineas on Sunday and Oxx's fellow Curragh trainer, Dermot Weld, confirmed yesterday that the Park Stakes winner Theoretically will take her chance in the big race.
Weld, however, is playing his cards closer to his chest over Saturday's 2,000 Guineas and a drop in trip for the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial third Muakaad has not been ruled out. A decision is likely to be made tomorrow.
Giant's Causeway will be the Ballydoyle runner in the Guineas but one horse that will not be accompanying him from Aidan O'Brien's yard is Monashee Mountain who is currently on the injury list.
"Monashee Mountain has strained a muscle in his shoulder area which probably explains why he drifted so badly to his left in the French Guineas," said a Coolmore Stud spokesman yesterday. "He's on the easy list but it shouldn't be too serious."
Roscommon, in the middle of a £120,000 development programme, stages its first meeting of the year tonight and the inform team of Noel Meade and Paul Carberry can strike again.
Dante's Battle will have to jump better than when winning at Tipperary but is still hard to oppose in the Hannon Chase while Native Estates has a hurdles rating that puts it bang in with a chance against Feathered Leader in the Villiger Hurdle.
Another to keep an eye on is Precedence whose breeding suggests a first tilt at beyond nine furlongs in the maiden should suit while Shvera's run behind Colin's Double at Fairyhouse was advertised yesterday and Jim Gorman's charge is worth a look in the handicap.
Sendawar, last year's French 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes winner, returned as good as ever in the Group One Prix d'Ispahan (nine-and-a-quarter furlongs) at Longchamp yesterday with an easy three-length defeat of Indian Danehill. The Aga Khan-owned colt is now being aimed at the 10-furlong Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in July. His trainer, Alain de Royer Dupre, said: "We would expect him to stay that trip provided the ground is not testing."
Fusaichi Pegasus was reported to be in good spirits following his shock defeat at the hands of Red Bullet in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday.
