RACING: Sholokov and Ballingarry, second and third respectively in the Irish Derby, head a five-strong Aidan O'Brien entry for the Doncaster St Leger in 16 days time.
The Ballydoyle trainer won the world's oldest classic with Milan last year and he also has Galileo's brother Black Sam Bellamy, Sorcerous and Starbourne as contenders for a possible follow up. "The Leger is a bit away still but they are all possibles for it," said O'Brien yesterday.
A total of 17 horses remain in the Doncaster classic including the Voltigeur winner Bandari and the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks heroine, Kazzia. Reach For The Moon remains a "possible" for Sunday's Moyglare Stud Stakes but the O'Brien filly could end up facing Danaskaya in the Curragh Group One. Jim Bolger hasn't ruled out a quick return for last week's Lowther Stakes runner-up and he also has the Stakes winning Luminta in the race.
Dermot Weld is set to commit Sunday's Fairyhouse winner Anna Frid, a full-sister to Agnetha, to the Moyglare and Mail The Desert looks the most likely to try and bridge a winning Moyglare gap going back six years for cross-channel raiders.
Hopes remain high that the injured jump jockey Jimmy Mansell can be taken off a life-support machine soon but he currently remains "stable but critical" in Castlebar General Hospital.
"The situation is as was. He is still on the life support machine and is stable but critical," said the Turf Club medical officer Dr Walter Halley.
Today's Tralee feature is the Denny Gold Medal Handicap Chase where the topweight Monty's Pass bids to repeat last year's success. Of those that ran in the Galway Plate, Ridgewood Water came out best, running third to Rockholm Boy. Paul Carberry's decision to ride his stable companion Fnan is significant but any rain would not help Fnan's chance.
He also has a bit to find with Keeponthesunnyside on Kilbeggan form and it may be younger brother Philip Carberry who lifts the pot.
John Oxx is without doubt the trainer in form at the moment and Mirific looks a bet in the concluding mile maiden. Runner-up to yesterday's Stakes winner Blatant at Naas on his debut, Mirific may well be preceded into the number one spot by Dear Catch in the 11-furlong handicap after his two-length defeat of Oriental Ben at Leopardstown.
Blatant powered home in emphatic fashion under John Murtagh to take the featured Carlsberg Ruby Stakes for Curragh trainer John Oxx on the second day of the Tralee Festival yesterday.
Murtagh, who earlier justified favouritism aboard stable companion Adalar in the Paddy Norris Maiden, always had the Machiavellian colt in the chasing pack close to the pace until he forged to the front after rounding the home turn.
Once Murtagh pressed the button early in the straight the response was instant and Blatant drew clear to beat Maumee by four lengths with the fast finishing Aquila Oculus back in third.
The Baltimore Man was put down after suffering a broken shoulder at the fifth fence in the beginners chase won by Theseus.
