An upbeat weather forecast for Leopardstown looks set to bring Galileo and Fantastic Light together again for another titanic clash on Saturday.
The Leopardstown racing manager, Tom Burke, described the ground at the Co Dublin track yesterday as good, and added: "Based on the information we have at the moment, it is possible the going will be on the fast side of good by the weekend."
That was good news for Godolphin, who have targeted the Irish Champion Stakes as Fantastic Light's opportunity for revenge ever since finishing runner-up to Galileo in the King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.
Godolphin will keep the Juddmonte International winner, Sakhee, in the race until Thursday just in case there is a dramatic weather shift, but the chance of soft ground now looks to have disappeared.
Spokesman Simon Crisford said yesterday: "Out intention has always been to run Fantastic Light and if the ground is good, or faster, I expect him to run. That's the most likely situation. Give The Slip will be a pacemaker and even though there are only likely to be five or six runners, it should be a proper race."
Aidan O'Brien gave a "so- far-so-good" bulletin on Galileo yesterday and it was enough for Cashmans to make the unbeaten dual-Derby winner their 4 to 9 favourite ahead of Fantastic Light on 7 to 4.
Galileo's stable companion, Bach, is next best on 33 to 1 and it's 66 to 1 bar.
The Leopardstown highlight, the fifth leg of the Emirates World Series, will be the centrepiece of another major Group One weekend for O'Brien, who has already notched up 14 of racing's most prestigious events this season.
Haydock's Stanley Leisure Cup could see Mull Of Kintyre and Minardi flying the Ballydoyle flag. The Prix Maurice de Gheest winner, King Charlemagne, is described as only "a possible" for the race.
O'Brien said: "If King Charlemagne doesn't run at Haydock, he could be kept for the Breeders' Cup Mile or a race like that. Mull Of Kintyre and Minardi are there at Haydock and we have been thinking of dropping both of them in trip."
On Sunday, O'Brien will be at Longchamp for the Prix du Moulin, the mile race he has picked out for the improving three-year-old, Hawkeye. "He is likely to be our only runner in the race," the trainer added.
Back on the home front, Ishiguru is the most likely Ballydoyle runner in the Group Three Flying Five, a race also being targeted by Scottish trainer Jim Goldie for the Gosforth Park Cup winner, Indian Spark.
Another intended British runner at the weekend is Friday's Chester winner, Wahj, who is being aimed at the Tote Ireland Handicap.
