The eagerly anticipated clash between Azamour and Motivator in Saturday's Baileys Irish Champion Stakes looks to be back on if the rain forecast for Leopardstown tonight arrives. A change of forecast could now see up to two inches of rain falling on the Dublin track by tomorrow morning and that would result in a dramatic change in the going.
"If we get all of that I think we would be looking at yielding ground anyway," predicted Leopardstown's racing manager Tom Burke yesterday in a bulletin that was music to the ears of Motivator's connections.
The Derby winner's trainer, Michael Bell, is now banking on the forecast being correct. Last week it was declared that Motivator would not run if the word firm appeared in the going description and instead would go straight for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
"It's looking positive. The forecast is in our favour. I just hope it is right. The ground could end up suiting us and not suiting Azamour," Bell said, while Harry Herbert of the Royal Ascot Racing Club stressed how keen they are to run Motivator.
"We are desperate to run and at the moment we can be more hopeful," he said. "They are now talking of up to two inches and if they get that we are definitely a goer."
If Motivator does run he will be ridden by Kevin Darley after a game of musical jockeys that now sees Frankie Dettori scheduled to partner Aidan O'Brien's Scorpion in Saturday's Doncaster St Leger and Kieren Fallon teaming up with Oratorio at Leopardstown.
However, the uncertainty about the ground conditions could see Attraction being taken out of the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes and instead travel to Canada for the Grade One Atto Mile on Sunday week.
Understandably, the John Oxx camp were less pleased at the idea of a change in the ground but Azamour will still attempt to become the first back-to-back Champion Stakes winner.
"He likes it quick but we're not looking for firm just three weeks before the Arc. Safe ground with some juice in it will be fine. I don't think yielding would be a worry, if it does come up like that," said Oxx.
In contrast there was a "more the merrier" attitude from the Dermot Weld team as regards prospective rain that would aid Grey Swallow's challenge on the Champion Stakes.
Good to firm going was a real concern for last year's Irish Derby winner, who ran fourth to Azamour in last year's renewal.
Weld's son, Kris, said: "If the ground is suitable he will definitely run and if they get some rain we hope it will be the more the merrier. Watering can only do so much."
The Leopardstown authorities had watered the course on Monday and Tuesday but Tom Burke insisted yesterday that will have a minimal impact if the expected bad weather arrives.
