The current weather fluctuations have worked in Aidan O'Brien's favour and the Ballydoyle trainer is set to run Lavery in Sunday's French 2,000 Guineas.
Good ground had been viewed as an absolute minimum for the Heinz 57 winner to run at Longchamp but initial reports from France of soft going have been dispelled.
"They are talking now about watering the track, so it looks like Lavery will be going," said O'Brien yesterday. Lavery won on his reappearance at Goodwood in the Shergar Sprint Cup last weekend.
Fifteen horses remain in the 2,000 Guineas this morning but just six remain in the Group One Prix Lupin, where O'Brien hasn't ruled out running the Beresford Stakes winner, Festival Hall.
However, the 10-furlong contest is likely to be dominated by the locally-trained Montjeu, whom John Hammond sent out to win the Prix Grefuhle last time.
In a surprise move, O'Brien has ruled Aspen Leaves out of the 1,000 Guineas. "The year is long and we've decided to give her more time," he said.
This evening's meeting at Downpatrick features the quick reappearance of the handicapper's nightmare, Back On Top, who goes on the flat in the 13-furlong maiden.
John Hassett's horse followed a snug win at Cork with an easy success at Punchestown, followed then by another smooth success in the valuable handicap hurdle at Killarney last Sunday. Even some substantial hikes in the ratings may not stop this one's progress, and this evening's race looks something of a penalty kick without a goalkeeper.
Another successful short-priced favourite should be Noel Meade's The Bunny Boiler in the point-to-point bumper. This one was short headed by Southsea Native in the Powers bumper at Fairyhouse, a performance that shouted potential.
The nap, however, goes to Celtic Minstrel in the opening maiden hurdle. Runner-up three times last year and a handicap winner on the flat at Dundalk, Celtic Minstrel looks well up to scoring in a race of this standard and is preferred to Sir Cador.
Eddie Ahern started last evening's Clonmel meeting with just one win to his credit so far this term but he quickly increased his tally when recording a double.
Bottom-weight Experimental sparked off the 41 to 1 double when, despite drifting towards the stand side inside the final furlong, he came home with two lengths to spare over Bamford Castle and Shane Kelly.
"I really fancied him for Killarney earlier in the week. He was given a great ride out there today and I may run him again at Roscommon on Monday," said winning trainer Gerry Lynch.
In the next when Ahern team up with Michael Kelly's Emerald Project to easily account for Hennessy Feeds.
