Dermot Weld produced more winners on the Flat than anyone else in Ireland last year and the legendary Curragh trainer will be doubly represented in Sunday's ladbrokes.com Irish Lincolnshire as he tries to get 2006 off to a flyer.
Weld reports he is satisfied with the state of readiness of his powerful string ahead of the opening of the new Flat season but also admits he doubts if there is a major Classic prospect among his three-year-olds.
"We have a very nice team but it's doubtful if there is a star among the three-year-olds. However, you never know until they run," he said yesterday.
"I'm satisfied with them even though they were probably more forward two weeks ago. The recent cold snap has slowed them down a bit."
One horse who will be race fit is Bobs Pride whose hurdling career didn't result in a trip to Cheltenham but which should have left him spot on for the Lincolnshire. His stable companion Bawaadar will also run in the mile premier handicap.
"Pat Smullen will ride Bobs Pride and Shane Gorey will be on board Bawaader. I also have Utterly Heaven for the Park Express Stakes," Weld added.
Plans for the 2004 Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow are less clear although he is reported to be in good form. The five-year-old missed out on a trip to Dubai for tomorrow's World Cup and no decision has been taken on when he will make his first start of the season.
Last year Weld's prize-money total of almost €1.8 million was less than half that of Aidan O'Brien but his winner tally of 64 in Ireland was two more than both O'Brien and John Oxx.
Remarkably, Weld has been the leading trainer in number of winners on 20 occasions since landing his first in 1972.
The Co Tipperary trainer David Wachman is looking towards the Stan James 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket for his Classic prospect El Fuego who could have a trial run beforehand.
"He has wintered well and the plan is the Guineas. But I will have to speak to the owners (John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith) to see what they want to do closer to the race," said Wachman of the colt who won his sole start to date at Fairyhouse in August.
"He wants good ground so that will be important in deciding whether he has a prep run first. I wouldn't mind going straight to Newmarket but ground is the key," he said.
"He has a better chance of decent ground in England so that would be more realistic - something like the Craven or the Greenham could be on the agenda," Wachman added.
Indesatchel was a Greenham winner for Wachman last year but he said yesterday El Fuego compares favourably with that horse. "He has very little experience, having had only one run, and I'm not sure about the form, but time will tell," he said.
"Indesatchel did well for us last year and at this stage I would say El Fuego compares favourably."
Boylesports have reported some nibbles for Kieren Fallon in their ante-post market for the 2006 Irish Flat Jockeys' Championship but the reigning champion Pat Smullen remains favourite to notch the fourth title of his career.
Horse Racing Ireland announced yesterday there will be a replacement fixture at Wexford on Friday, April 7th. The original St Patrick's Day meeting at the course was cancelled because of waterlogging.
Boylesports betting on Irish jockeys' Flat title race: 6-4 Pat Smullen, 5-2 Kieren Fallon, 9-2 Michael Kinane, 5 Fran Berry, 7 John Murtagh.
