Racing News and Down Royal preview:  The Ballydoyle team of Jamie Spencer and Aidan O'Brien yesterday gave an upbeat bulletin on One Cool Cat ahead of his attempt on this afternoon's Stanley Leisure Haydock Sprint Cup.

A return to sprinting has resulted in a Group Three success at the Curragh and a third in York's Nunthorpe Stakes over five furlongs. However, a furlong longer today and drying ground look to be in One Cool Cat's favour as he tries for a valuable Group One bracket.

The going at Haydock is predicted to be just on the slow side of good and O'Brien said: "It's good news that it is drying out and the more it dries the happier we will be. He hasn't done a lot since York but we're happy with him."

Spencer added: "The extra furlong should play to his strengths and the drier weather has been encouraging for us. I expect him to give a very good account of himself."

It will be a major Group One weekend for Ballydoyle as Antonius Pius returns to Longchamp for the third time this season in tomorrow's Prix du Moulin.

John Murtagh, whose previous top-level victories for O'Brien include the 2002 Derby on High Chaparral, will take the mount on the Danzig colt, who threw away victory in the French 2,000 Guineas by colliding with a running rail and was disqualified from the Prix de Fontainbleau before that in April.

"He's had a little break since his last run," said O'Brien. "I'm not concerned about going back to Longchamp. He hasn't done anything wrong in his last few races." The Moulin opposition will be difficult with the French Guineas winner American Post having a first start since failing to stay in the Derby, Lucky Story representing the Mark Johnston team and the Prix Jacques Le Marois winner Whipper.

Today's domestic action at Down Royal includes the Mark Prescott-trained Coat Of Honour, who runs in the Majesty's Plate on the back of a good second in a Haydock handicap. That form might be good enough to beat the 100-rated three-year-old Lord Admiral.