Racing/News round-up: Powerscourt could yet make it back to the racecourse and possibly try to secure a third successive victory for Aidan O'Brien in the Breeders' Cup Turf later this month.

The Sadlers Wells colt, for so long the sole Group One standard bearer at Ballydoyle this year, had to miss out on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after emerging lame from last month's Irish Champion Stakes.

But O'Brien reported yesterday that Powerscourt is back in full training for the last week and he hasn't given up hope of having him ready for the Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park in just over three weeks.

"He is back in training and we hope he has a chance of getting there but it is too early to say for definite yet. He was lame after the Champion and we had to stop completely with him," said the trainer, whose season has taken a dramatic upturn in the last week with Group One victories for both Ad Valorem and Oratorio.

Before that Powerscourt had been the sole Group One winner of 2004 for the powerful Ballydoyle yard with his Tattersalls Gold Cup victory in May. He did, however, lose out on the Arlington Million in August after being thrown out of first place by stewards.

Despite his problems, Powerscourt remains as low as 6 to 1 second favourite for the Breeders' Cup Turf with both Ladbrokes and Coral.

Kitten's Joy, the top American turf horse this year, is a 5 to 2 favourite, while O'Brien has another hope for the race in Tycoon (12 to 1), who ran third in Belmont's Turf Classic last weekend.

Intriguingly, O'Brien also didn't rule out Powerscourt being entered for the Breeders' Cup Classic on dirt also. That race, which has never fallen to a European-trained horse, is also the target for the Arc winner Bago.

Last year's Moyglare Stud Stakes winner, Necklace, is being quoted as 12 to 1 for the Fillies & Mares Race in Texas, but O'Brien said yesterday she is finished for the season.

Instead, Yesterday, who was placed in the race at Santa Anita last year, is a possible to again make the trip.

Oratorio's Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere victory at Longchamp on Sunday may have been the Ballydoyle highlight, but Acropolis running into fourth in the Arc pushed it close.

"He has always been a good horse but one who has had problems. I'm not sure what he will do next but it's possible he is finished for the season," O'Brien said. "Ace will not run again this year, but if we have a runner in the Champion Stakes Mingun might be a possible, even though it comes a bit soon."

At the Curragh on Sunday, the champion British jumps trainer Martin Pipe will have his first runner on the flat in Ireland when Liberman takes part in the Cesarewitch, and there could be further cross-sea interest in the race as Mark Prescott has an entry of four to choose from.

Prescott is already planning to run Foreign Affairs in the Listed Finale Stakes and Rock Dove in the Flame Of Tara Stakes.

Michael Hourigan will make a decision today on which option Beef Or Salmon will take up for his seasonal debut over fences.

Tomorrow's National Lottery Agent Champion Chase is one route open to the Gold Cup hope, but there is also Sunday's Anglo Irish Bank Munster National at Limerick. If the latter is preferred, Beef Or Salmon is likely to meet up with the 2003 Grand National winner Monty's Pass, whose trainer, Jimmy Mangan, said: "Unless there is a deluge he is going to run. If he doesn't have other commitments, Barry Geraghty will ride."

The Gowran race will be taken on by last season's leading novice Kicking King, who will have his first start over three miles under Geraghty also.

"He is ready for a first run and I hope we will get good jumping ground with a bit of cut," said Kicking King's trainer Tom Taaffe.

Gowran stages an all-flat card this afternoon where Jamie Spencer can make his presence felt with a double.

The Ballydoyle newcomer My Tiger (Storm Cat) makes his debut in the opener, and Spencer looks a significant booking for The Castles in the second division of the seven furlong maiden.

Joe Crowley's horse was just pipped at Tramore in August over a mile and a half, but before that had run well over a mile on this course and looks a much more likely prospect than Pulitser. The newcomer Dafalia is the dark horse.

Spencer is on the Sadlers Wells colt Colwyn Bay in the mile maiden, but Etijahaat has the benefit of a run behind Colwyn Bay's stablemate Tiger Dance last month and the Weld horse can make that count.

Sky High Flyer is one of only two juveniles trained by Paul Nolan, and despite winning over six furlongs at Tralee she should relish the step back to a mile for the Premier Nursery.