Astronomer Royal got the Aidan O'Brien team off the classic mark in style in France on Sunday and it looks like Duke Of Marmalade will be the Ballydoyle standard-bearer in the next leg of the classic season at the Curragh in 11 days' time.
The Coolmore boss John Magnier indicated at the weekend that Duke Of Marmalade, fourth to Cockney Rebel in the Newmarket Guineas, will miss out on the Epsom Derby and instead remain at a mile for the Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas.
O'Brien also gave a provisional all-clear to Astronomer Royal and the other colts that ran in the French Guineas, as well as Archipenko who landed the Derrinstown Derby Trial on the same day.
"It will be a day or two before we know for sure but they all walked out fine this morning," the champion trainer said. "I don't know if any of the horses that ran in France will run at the Curragh. There's only two weeks between the races and that might not be enough. But Duke Of Marmalade looks like he will go for the Irish Guineas. He's a big, strong horse that ran well at Newmarket and our horses look to be improving for their first runs."
O'Brien is unlikely to have any runners at York this week, and a quick return to France for Sunday's Group One Prix D'Ispahan is also not being planned. However, Marcus Andronicus could take his chance in Saturday's Juddmonte Lockinge at Newbury. "There is a chance he will run but we won't make a decision until Wednesday," the trainer said.
Cockney Rebel remains on target for a possible Guineas double up at the Curragh and Kevin Prendergast is also keeping the classic option open for Haatef, although the Sheikh Hamdan-owned colt could instead drop back to sprinting for the six furlong Greenlands Stakes at the same Curragh festival weekend.
Plans appear to be more concrete, however, for Prendergast's Derby hopeful Mores Wells who failed to fire in the Derrinstown on Sunday and who could now bypass Epsom and wait for the Irish Derby instead.
"The ground was too fast for him on Sunday - he's a Sadlers Wells. We were promised good ground but it was like a road. He is okay but he didn't travel on that ground," the Curragh trainer said.
Killarney winds up this evening with a well-travelled visitor from Mark Prescott's Newmarket yard adding Kerry to her long list of passport stamps.
Last year's Italian Oaks third Souvenanace has already visited Scandinavia, France and Germany in her attempts to add to a sole career victory to date as a two-year-old.
Declan McDonogh's mount even took in a visit to Cork last year when third to Reform Act and the balance of her form gives her the clear winning of the May festival finale. Kalamkar, fourth in the 2005 Chester Vase, and a half brother to the Breeders Cup winner Kalanisi is a possible contender for place money.
Ruby Walsh can score on the smart bumper performer O'Hana in the mares maiden hurdle but could have to give best to David Casey on Cool Running in the novice chase.
