RACING: Johannesburg will be the centre of Aidan O'Brien's and Michael Kinane's attention today but the Group One focus will continue in Paris tomorrow courtesy of Castle Gandolfo.
The Ballydoyle trainer expects Johannesburg to improve from today's race in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, his first start since the Kentucky Derby.
"He is in good form but because of the bad weather, we haven't been able to do any fast work with him. He will improve a lot for the race," O'Brien said.
Castle Gandolfo, who also ran in the Kentucky Derby, goes in the ten furlong Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp which has cut up rather badly.
The chief opposition to last year's Beresford winner could come from the Andre Fabre-trained Shaanmer who finished fifth in the French 2,000 Guineas, after which he dead-heated for second in the Prix Jean Prat.
O'Brien runs Roar Of The Tiger in the Group Three Prix du Lys and Maderno in the Prix de la Porte Maillot. Both colts will be partnered by Kinane.
The home action this weekend is highlighted by today's Ulster Harp Derby in which the controversial Mirpour is a likely market leader.
John Murtagh's pre-Derby nightmare came on this horse who was caught on the line at Naas when the jockey eased up too soon.
Mirpour raced off 75 at Naas but goes today off a mark of 92. That's a big hike for a three-year-old and maybe a value alternative could be Laoch Na Mara.
Gordon Power claims off the Jim Bolger-trained Fairyhouse winner and the rise to a mile and a half could mean further improvement in the horse.
Tom Queally rides the good juvenile hurdler Balapour in this race and any further drying of the ground will increase that one's chance.
However, Oliver Brady also supplies Queally with the ride on Flint Knapper in the following handicap and this dual hurdles scorer could be ahead of the handicapper.
Pat Smullen broke his Ascot duck in the Ribblesdale and the in-form jockey can return to action at home with a double.
Umpqua Eagle now looks set to go close in the seven furlong handicap after two runs this season while Mobasher may pick up the maiden.
The big betting heat is likely to be the handicap hurdle. The good chaser Cregg House is on a hurdles roll but maybe Fable can trump them all.
