Variable expected to perform in Oaks Trial

Dermot Weld aims to hit the Group One mark for Juddmonte with Brooch in Sunday's €250,000 Sea The Stars Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh so a win for Prince Khalid Abdullah's team courtesy of Variable at Naas this evening will be a timely boost.

The Juddmonte-owned Variable, a daughter of Sea The Stars, has just a third career start in the Listed Oaks Trial and drops back in distance to a mile and a quarter.

However, she was so impressive when breaking her maiden at Cork a month ago that it will be disappointing if she can’t at least earn some consideration for the Irish Oaks in just over three weeks’ time.

Brooch is set to defend her unbeaten record at HQ on Sunday after being one of a dozen left in the race after the final forfeit stage. The clash of older fillies and the classic generation could also include the classic winners, Legatissimo and Pleascach, while the Group One winners Ribbons and Madame Chiang are among a potentially strong cross-channel challenge.

Weld has left last Thursday's beaten Gold Cup favourite Forgotten Rules among 15 in the Group Three At The Races Curragh Cup.

Break his duck

Racing opens at Naas this evening with a five furlong maiden that should see Captain Power break his duck.

The promising apprentice Robbie Downey takes a valuable claim off the back of this 80-rated horse who handled fast ground conditions well enough at Cork in April to suggest he can now get his head in front.