RACING: THE weekend's classic focus will be on the Curragh but county Tipperary-based trainer David Wachman is hopeful of a big run from Mount Athos in Europe's most valuable two-mile handicap at Newcastle on Saturday.
Mount Athos is challenging for favouritism for the Northumberland Plate after an encouraging fourth from a bad draw in last month’s Chester Cup. “We are hoping to have a good chance as the horse has been in good form. He ran well at Chester and did well to finish where he did considering he had such a poor draw,” Wachman said yesterday.
“The owner, Dr Koukash, and I have planned this race for him and we are very much looking forward to it. For the future there are plenty of options and the Melbourne Cup could be one of them,” he added.
Sunday’s Group One feature in France, the €400,000 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, could still have some Irish representation as Aidan O’Brien has still a strong entry in the race including Cape Blanco and St Nicholas Abbey. The Aga Khan’s Sarafina could head the home team while Barry Hills’ Redwood is a likely traveller.
