RACING NEWS:AIDAN O'BRIEN is set to try and tighten even further the stranglehold he appears to have on this year's Epsom Derby when Ernest Hemingway takes on Britain's top blue-riband hopes in Thursday's Betfred Dante Stakes at York.
Winner of his sole career start to date, by 10 lengths at Dundalk last month, Ernest Hemingway is already as low as 16 to 1 in some ante-post lists for Epsom but will get a thorough test of his classic credentials in the most important cross-channel classic trial of all.
The Dante has thrown up the subsequent Derby hero in four of the last eight years with the winners North Light, Motivator and Authorized joined two years ago by the York runner-up Workforce.
He was beaten by the O’Brien horse Cape Blanco in the Dante, one of four Ballydoyle horses to have won the 10-furlong Group Two Two highlight in the past – Black Bear Island (2009), Septimus (2006) and Saratoga Springs (1998.)
This time the current second favourite for Epsom, Bonfire is likely to line up alongside Godolophin’s Group One-winner Mandaean and Frankel’s brother Noble Mission.
Ernest Hemingway will travel though on the back of a wave of Ballydoyle success in Britain in the past number of weeks with Camelot and Homecoming Queen completing the Guineas double at Newmarket and Imperial Monarch (Sandown Classic Trial) and Astrology (Dee Stakes) hoovering up some of the top Epsom trials.
O’Brien’s grip on the Oaks market is even more dominant and Was, a daughter of Galileo who won her only start to date at the Curragh in August, could earn a ticket alongside Kissed, Maybe and Wading if impressive this week.
Was has a choice of either York’s Musidora Stakes on Wednesday or the Blue Wind Stakes at Naas that evening.
The Ballydoyle stalwart Fame And Glory is entered to make his first start of 2012 in Friday’s Yorkshire Cup where his opposition could include Godolphin’s Opinion Poll and the Melbourne Cup runner up Red Cadeaux.
Pipped by a nose by Dunaden in Australia, Red Cadeaux afterwards finished third in the Hong Kong Vase last year. Ed Dunlop’s charge returned to finish second in the rescheduled Sagaro Stakes at Kempton last month.
“All being well he’ll run in the Yorkshire Cup. He won’t run on firm ground, but I don’t think we’re going to get that,” trainer Ed Dunlop said yesterday.
This evening’s €23,500 feature chase at Killarney could provide Irish rugby star Ronan O’Gara with a boost as his colours are carried by Your Busy.
The James Nash-trained horse looks to have a perfect racing weight with the inclusion of the topweight Tranquil Sea and forecast good ground should also help the nine-year-old who was attempting a tough task against Frisco Depot at Limerick last time.
Tonight’s race also sees an interesting runner in the veteran Powerstation who will be running in just his fifth race over fences.
Another former Grade One winner lining up at Killarney, Catch Me, is rated to come out on top in the conditions hurdle. Realt Dubh and Dancing Tornado are entered too.
Giant’s Quest reverts back to hurdles this evening and looks to hold a leading chance judged on his Navan run behind Protaras and Simon Gray in March.
Elsie has finished runner-up to Ireland’s two top-bumper performers, Champagne Fever and Don Cossack, and should be hard to beat in the finale.
