French Derby preview:Both Alexander Of Hales and Chinese Whisper will represent the Aidan O'Brien team in tomorrow's French Derby as this weekend's classic train finishes up at Chantilly.
The Prix du Jockey Club has remained frustratingly elusive to the champion Irish trainer over the last decade ever since Saratoga Springs finished out of the money in 1997.
A field of 20 line up tomorrow including a trio of runners from the legendary French champion trainer Andre Fabre.
The Prix Greffulhe winner Quest For Honour looks the best of the three.
Christophe Soumillon teams up with the Aga Khan's Shamdira but the dark horse of the race in many respects is Alexander Of Hales who followed up a narrow Naas maiden success by landing last weekend's Group Three Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh.
Seamus Heffernan will again ride him while John Murtagh will be on board Chinese Whisper, Group One placed in Italy last year, and placed twice in France this year, including when third to Lawman in a Group Three at Chantilly last month.
Frankie Dettori, already a double French Derby winner on Polytain and Shamardal, will be on board Lawman on this occasion.
Joanna Morgan has been the trainer in form in Ireland over the last fortnight and a 5lb penalty for a threelength success at Ballinrobe earlier in the week shouldn't stop Jawad from continuing that hot streak in the 14 furlong handicap at Tramore this afternoon.
Alexander Goldmine has to shoulder topweight in the mile and a half handicap.
But Kevin Prendergast's filly was a gusty winner at Roscommon on her last start and the form of her run before that is working out well.
The racing action switches to Kilbeggan this evening and Davy Russell can reward his followers in the second race where Oscar Night is an interesting runner.
Adrian Maguire's runner switches back to jumping after a fine effort on the flat at Killarney where he chased home the high-class Mark Prescott filly Souvenance.
Russell is also on the bumper winner Melon Delta in the opening maiden hurdle and the booking looks significant.
Pat Smullen will switch from Epsom today to Navan tomorrow and Willie Mullins looks to supply him with a major shout in the mile and a quarter handicap with Tango Foxtrot.
The five-year-old had a tough task on his last start at Gowran when runner-up to Bahrain Storm and this looks an easier task.
