It's a long way from Meath to Melbourne, but a prominent display by Bellamy Cay at Fairyhouse in the featured Diamond Stakes this afternoon may just get some grand plans back on track for Dermot Weld's horse.
The presence of a Weld-trained runner in the list of Melbourne Cup entries always generates considerable interest Down Under, which is hardly surprising considering the exploits of Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002).
Despite that, Bellamy Cay is very much an outsider for this year's renewal of the race that stops a nation.
That's hardly surprising either, since Bellamy Cay's first run for his new connections last weekend hardly set any part of the world on fire as he trailed in last of the nine behind Yeats in the Irish St Leger.
Although he would have been hard pressed to cope with Yeats and Scorpion anyway, it was still disappointing that Bellamy Cay couldn't land any sort of blow considering the overall level of ability he showed in France for Andre Fabre.
The former Juddmonte-owned five-year-old won six of his 14 starts and worked his way through the ranks, winning at Listed, Group Three and Group Two level, before only just failing in the Group One Prix Royal Oak last year.
Michael Smurfit's colours were carried by both of Weld's Melbourne Cup winners, and Bellamy Cay was bought as another Flemington hopeful for Smurfit, so a lot is riding on his second Irish start today.
"He ran far too free in the Leger and didn't settle at all," Weld said yesterday. "We will have to see how he gets on now before deciding on anything. But he will have to improve if he is to go anywhere.
"Unless he runs a good race today, his future in fact could be over jumps."
On the face of it he faces a stiff task, as the 10 furlong trip is hardly his optimum and the likes of Fracas and Arch Rebel have decent form at the trip in company just off the top class.
Against that, however, is a 114 rating that's the highest in the race, and the presence of champion jockey-elect Pat Smullen on his back rather than the other Weld runner, Latino Magic.
With that reappearance run under his belt, Bellamy Cay should show up much better today, but in a competitive, 16-runner event, maybe the value betting option will be Arch Rebel, who found only Hearthstead Maison too good in the Kilternan Stakes on Irish Champion Stakes day.
Michael Kinane and Kieren Fallon will also be on duty at Fairyhouse and Fallon faces an interesting task in the opening six furlong maiden aboard Magna Cum Laude.
Aidan O'Brien's colt endured a controversial defeat by his stable companion Achill Island at Tipperary over seven lengths, and was out of his depth behind New Approach in last weekend's National Stakes. His supporters will argue a drop back to six furlongs will help him, but Magna Cum Laude may not be one to entirely trust and the Kinane newcomer Dahindar could be an interesting alternative.
Kinane has chosen Saga Celebre from a trio of John Oxx fillies in the mile and a quarter maiden, and the hint could be worth taking, while the Weld runner Drifting looks one to examine in the second division of the six furlong maiden.
The Coolmore-owned filly is out of a half-sister to New Approach and will be extremely valuable if she can build on a promising enough Curragh debut behind Queen Of France.
The opening maiden at Listowel contains a number of disappointing fillies, including Regalline, who at the start of the year was being talked up as a possible classic candidate.
Kevin Prendergast's three-year-old has had any number of opportunities, and if the going gets tough up the straight this afternoon, she could find one too good for her again. Silver Tide could be that one this time.
The prolific Hegrid tops the weights in the handicap hurdle and there will be plenty willing to bet the six-year-old can add to four hurdle wins and one flat victory already this year. However, Ruby Walsh's mount does have to concede a lot of weight to the course winner Bluebyyou, who can make that concession tell.
Brave Right and Medicinal should have an interesting clash in the two mile novice chase and the latter looks like he will be better suited by this flat track than the hills of Galway, where he disappointed behind Prairie Moonlight.
Carlowsantana won on heavy ground at the Tralee festival and should have no trouble with the testing conditions in the seven furlong handicap, while Wesaidneveragain, runner-up to Fancy Feathers over six furlongs here earlier in the week, should be a player in the mile handicap.
