TIMARIDA, who was so impressive when landing the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last month may be forced to miss the English equivalent at Newmarket on Saturday after a blood test earlier this week showed signs of a bacterial infection.

At Navan yesterday, trainer John Oxx said: "This is really the last thing we needed at this stage with the race so close. Timarida coughed seven times on Monday and when blood tested on Tuesday, there were signs of a slight bacterial infection.

"She has been eating up and worked well enough on Monday and will work again on Thursday morning, after which we will let her blood again before making a final decision."

Oxx saddled two runners for the Skryne EBF Race and Dermot Hogan landed the spoils on the lesser fancied Khairabar. The Listed Eyrefield Stakes over nine furlongs at Leopardstown next month is now the target for the 11 to 1 winner, which picked up well close home to beat Cambodian by a length and a half, with stable companion Zafarabad back in third.

Aidan O'Brien described Strawberry Roan as "really good" after she impressed in winning the Kilcarn Stud EBF Fillies Race by eight lengths under Christy Roche.

In the Irish/Australian Jockey's Challenge, the visitors once again fired best and extended their lead to eight points (15-7) with two races in the series remaining. David Casey picked up five point's for the home side when finishing second on Drindod to the well backed If You Believe in the Wilkinson Handicap Chase, but the Australians accumulated a total of six points when finishing third, fourth and fifth.

Heist, the 1 to 4 favourite, got away with a bad mistake at the penultimate fence in the Virginia Chase which he eventually won by a comfortable four tenths.

Miss Roberto got the better of the front running favourite Go Sasha in the Juvenile Hurdle.