IRISH ST LEGER NEWS:JOHNNY MURTAGH could end up attempting to fill in the last blank on his Irish Classic CV aboard Yeats at the Curragh on Saturday.
The season’s leading jockey has never won the €275,000 Irish Field St Leger but Aidan O’Brien indicated yesterday that Murtagh may be on duty at the Curragh rather than at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting on the same afternoon.
O’Brien has four of the 10 remaining entries in the Doncaster Classic, including the current second and third ante-post favourites, Age Of Aquarius and Changingoftheguard, but Ballydoyle’s number one rider could be on duty at home instead, although final arrangement are not finalised.
Both Age Of Aquarius and Changingoftheguard are also among the 14 left in the Irish Leger after yesterday’s forfeit stage and ground conditions at the Curragh could end up being an important factor as to final running plans.
“At the moment the plan is for Yeats to be at the Curragh and for the other two to go to Doncaster. Quick ground in England wouldn’t be a problem for them. The ground at the Curragh is not going to be ideal for Yeats anyway but I suppose if it got very bad, he might not run and one of the three-year- olds might stay at home. We’ll have to see,” O’Brien said yesterday. The going at the Curragh yesterday was heavy on the straight course and soft to heavy on the round although weather conditions are forecast to improve later in the week.
The final Classic of the Irish flat season is the only one missing on Murtagh’s home Classic list after his victory in May aboard Again in the 1,000 Guineas.
With O’Brien having a massive dozen entries among the 18 left in Saturday’s other Curragh Group One, the Ladbrokes Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, the early indications are the former champion will stay in Ireland, opening up the possibility of a Classic spare ride for O’Brien’s former number one Kieren Fallon at Doncaster.
“Nothing has been decided and we also have two-year-olds to run at both places, as well as the Leger horses. There is a chance Johnny will stay at home but it’s not guaranteed,” the champion trainer said.
Murtagh escaped serious injury in a fall at Dundalk on Sunday and was reported yesterday to be able to resume action at the Co Louth track this evening.
O’Brien is chasing an eighth National Stakes victory but although he is numerically dominant at this entry stage, his potential opposition include Kevin Prendergast’s highly-rated Kingsfort as well as last weekend’s impressive Leopardstown scorer Chabal.
“Alfred Nobel could run, or Cape Blanco. It will probably be one of those two with one or two others,” O’Brien said.
“The ground interfered with us getting work into Alfred Nobel before the Morny and it hasn’t been much better since. But we’ve had more time and he’s in good shape.”
The resurgent Godolphin team have supplemented the Acomb Stakes third Poets Voice into the National Stakes and they appear set to attack the Curragh features in some strength this Saturday.
As well as Poets Voice, the Goodwood Cup winner Schiaparelli is a Leger possible while Lady Marian is among a dozen entries for the Group Two Irish National Stud Blandford Stakes.
In ante-post betting, Yeats has been installed an odds-on 5 to 6 favourite by Cashmans to repeat his 2007 success in the race and the Cork firm rate Profound Beauty his biggest danger.
As well as Profound Beauty Dermot Weld has also left the presidential runner Suailce in at the Curragh for a Classic marathon he won twice with Vintage Crop and a remarkable four-in-a-row with Vinnie Roe.
John Oxx has left Mourayan in both Legers with Doncaster his number one preference for the Irish Derby third. However, the trainer is concerned about the possibility of ground conditions being too fast at Doncaster for Mourayan. Alandi is another Oxx entry for the Curragh Leger.
IRISH FIELD ST LEGER BETTING:(Cashmans): 5-6 Yeats, 7-4 Profound Beauty, 11-2 Schiaparelli, 7 Alandi, 12 All The Aces, 16 Tastchil, 25 others.
