Racing NewsThe bookmakers already seem to have dismissed the chances of Footstepsinthesand even running in Saturday's Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas but the Newmarket hero's trainer Aidan O'Brien insisted yesterday his star colt remains a possible starter at the Curragh.
Footstepsinthesand has been desperately weak in ante-post markets since betting began seriously on Monday and he has been taken out of the Paddy Power betting altogether.
Instead it is Oratorio, fourth at Newmarket, who is the popular Ballydoyle horse in the betting and is even challenging Dubawi for favouritism in some lists.
The big race sponsors, Boylesports, are currently keeping Footstepsinthesand in their betting but their representative Paul Magee said:
"It looks like he won't run and a lot of the good money has been for Dubawi."
O'Brien, however, has a total of eight colts among the 17-strong entry left in the race and the Ballydoyle trainer was at pains yesterday to say that no final decision has yet been taken on who will run.
"They all worked this morning and we will scope them tomorrow. Then we will sit down and make a decision. They are all possible at this stage. As matters stand Footstepsinthesand is still in the picture," he said.
O'Brien will be chasing a fifth 2,000 triumph on Saturday and he will have a pick of four fillies for the following day's 1,000 Guineas after yesterday's declaration stage saw a total of 23 horses left in.
O'Brien's quartet include the Newmarket Guineas winner, Virginia Waters, who has been installed as an evens favourite to become just the second filly to complete the Newmarket-Curragh double.
The immediate pre-race speculation, however, is likely to centre on Damson, also owned by John Magnier, who had to miss Newmarket when scooping badly after her last piece of work.
Paddy Power and Boylesports rate Damson as a 3 to 1 second choice in their markets but the Powers quote has a "with a run" qualification.
Yesterday her trainer David Wachman said: "She looks well, we're happy with her and she will work in the morning. We will probably leave a decision until morning but it will mostly come down to her work. If she shows well we are likely to run."
Wachman, who is chasing a first classic success of his career, also has Luas Line in the race and if the ground remains good she is a likely starter.
Seven British-trained fillies remain in the classic including Maids Causeway who was runner-up to Virginia Waters at Newmarket.
Her trainer Barry Hills won the race twice in the 1990s with Hula Angel ( 1999) and Nicer (1993.) Just nine remain in the Tattersalls Gold Cup after North Light's defection yesterday and the home team set to face up to the Arc winner Bago is likely to include Azamour.
The Aga Khan colt picked up a foot bruise on Monday but trainer John Oxx remains confident that Azamour will make the Group One older horse highlight.
"He is sound this morning and the injury looks minor enough. It's just bad timing because he will miss any fast work this week. But we want to get him out and I'm pretty hopeful he will make the race," he said.
The Oxx-trained Ehsan is as low as 10 to 1 for the Derby and is set for a pre-Epsom trial in the Group Three Gallinule Stakes on Sunday which is also likely to attract the O'Brien colt Scorpion. However, Oxx will be without a runner in the 2,000 Guineas.
"Raydan won't run and will go on a break. He didn't work well enough this morning to take his chance in the Guineas," he said.
The going at the Curragh was unchanged yesterday with the straight course reported "good" and the round "good to firm". But a forecast 10mms of rain is expected overnight.
One star name already ruled out, however, is Soviet Song who will not bid for a second triumph in Saturday's Ridgewood Pearl Stakes.
Instead her trainer, James Fanshawe, reported yesterday that she will wait for the Royal Ascot meeting at York where the Queen Anne Stakes will be an option.
This evening's action is at Fairyhouse where forecast rain could impact on the current "good to firm" going.
Michael Kinane looks to have a good book of rides including the Oxx duo of Rose Of Killeen and Ebaza as well as Michael Halford's Mary From Murroe who will try to make it third time lucky in the nine-furlong maiden.
Another rider to keep in mind, however, is Catherine Gannon who can pick up the opener on Key Rose while All Flash looks to have a good shout in the seven-furlong maiden having run well on the "wrong" side at the Curragh last time.
BETTING: (Paddy Power: 2,000 Guineas): 6-4 Dubawi, 2 Oratorio, 7 Rebel Rebel and Democratic Deficit, 14 Aragorn, 16 Raydan, 20 Bar. 6-4 Footstepsinthesand (with a run); (Boylesports 1,000 Guineas): Evs Virginia Waters, 3 Damson, 4 Maids Causeway and Saoire, 12 Jazz Princess, 14 Bar; (Cashmans: Tattersalls Gold Cup): 4-7 Bago, 11-4 Grey Swallow, 7 Yeats, 14 Norse Dancer, 16 Delfos, 20 Ace and Solskjaer, 100 bar.
