NEWS ROUND-UP:THE BREEDERS' Cup winner Nownownow is set to have his first start for Irish trainer David Wachman in the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas next month.
It will be Nownownow's first race since landing the inaugural Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf race at Monmouth Park in New Jersey last October but just the latest stage in the already colourful career of the American-bred colt.
Nownownow, a son of the stallion Whywhywhy, raced five times for the controversial French trainer Patrick Biancone in the USA before running for Francois Parisel at the Breeders' Cup.
He took over Biancone's string on the eve of that meeting after the embattled trainer agreed to a six-month licence suspension, and an additional six months away from training, after being found in possession of Alpha-Cobratoxin, or snake venom, which can be used as a pain-killer.
Nownownow beat the Aidan O'Brien-trained Achill Island by half a length at Monmouth Park and has been with Wachman at his Cashel base for almost six weeks since his transatlantic move.
"He has been going nicely and worked well after racing at the Curragh on Sunday," said Wachman yesterday.
"He has definitely got ability and I felt he won that race at the Breeders' Cup quite easily. He only had to be ridden out hands and heels."
Nownownow is a general 33 to 1 shot in ante-post betting for Newmarket although other prices on the colt appearing in the Epsom Derby may be misguided.
"If he is to run in a Derby, it would more than likely be the French Derby," Wachman said.
"But we will see how he gets on in the Guineas first. The plan is to go straight to Newmarket if all goes right in the next three weeks."
A total of 18 entries remain in Saturday's Woodlands Stakes at Naas including the highly-rated Cornwallis Stakes winner Captain Gerrard from Bryan Smart's Yorkshire yard.
He is among a strong British entry left in at yesterday's forfeit stage which also includes the former double-Group One winner Reverence from Eric Alston's Lancashire stables.
An interesting home runner is the John Oxx-trained three-year-old Age Of Chivalry who won his last two starts as a juvenile.
On the jumping front, the Cheltenham runner-up Venalmar is likely to step out of novice company and run instead in the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle at Punchestown where his rivals could include Kazal and Blazing Bailey.
Venalmar was just edged out of the Ballymore Properties Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham by Fiveforthree and his trainer Mouse Morris said yesterday: "We will probably run in the Ladbrokes race.
"I want to send him over fences next season and the ground will probably be on the good side so it is worth taking a chance."
Ruby Walsh's recent purple patch can continue at Limerick this evening where the former top bumper performer Equus Maximus can finally break his duck over jumps in the second maiden hurdle.
The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old was one of the best bumper runners of 2006 but wasn't seen for almost two years until reappearing earlier this season.
Three starts have shown there is enough left in the Equus Maximus tank to win a race like today's.
Mullins and Walsh will also fancy their chances in the mares Beginners Chase with Emma Jane whose 118 rating looks good for this.
She boasts a placed effort behind Callherwhatulike at Clonmel in December and one place ahead of her that day was Valley Of Giants who can pick up the second Beginners Chase half an hour later this evening.
