RACING/Preview: The Epsom Derby favourite Brian Boru may be on course to reappear in the Ballysax Stakes next month but so is the only horse to have got the better of him.
The unbeaten Alamshar will also have his first start of the season in the Leopardstown contest which is now a Group Three event due to the exploits of the last two winners, High Chaparral and Galileo.
However, the Ballysax in 2000 was also the kick-off point for the double Derby and Arc winner Sinndar who incurred his only career defeat in the race. Significantly his trainer John Oxx also intends to follow the proven Derby route, through the Derrinstown Derby Trial, with Alamshar.
The Aga Khan-owned colt won his first race at Listowel last September and followed up by beating Brian Boru by a head in the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh.
"It's early days yet but I couldn't be more happy with him. He has done well through the winter and he is on target to run in the Ballysax. It's the obvious start off point," Oxx said yesterday.
The Curragh trainer was, however, keen to play down any comparisons with Sinndar.
"He is a nice quiet, laid back horse with a very good temperament so he has that in common with Sinndar but one cannot make comparisons. He is just a Group Three winner while Sinndar had won the National Stakes," he said before indicating that stamina will not be a problem with Alamshar. "His sire Key Of Luck gets winners at a mile but the dam won at two miles and I will be a little surprised if he doesn't stay beyond the mile and a quarter."
Alamshar is a 25 to 1 shot with Stanley for the Vodafone Derby while Brian Boru is as short as 4 to 1 favourite.
However, the Aga Khan has another contender for the middle-distance classics in the French-trained Dalakhani who was a Group One winner as a juvenile.
Today's Irish action at Downpatrick is a long way from the classics but Dermot Weld runs Street Player in the 67-102 handicap hurdle. Estival Park's Fairyhouse running behind Alphazar looks a better winning option however.
One horse who does boast top form is Mr Anvil in the bumper. Trainer Mark Loughnane, runner-up in Sunday's Lincoln with Camargue, gives Mr Anvil a first start in 16 months. That resulted in a Naas bumper win from none other than Solerina.
Barry Geraghty travels north for the ride on Allfourwhite in the opener and this one's half length victory in a Limerick bumper reads pretty well in this context.
Allfourwhite's trainer Jessica Harrington also looks to have the winning of the Beginners Chase with Forsail.
