News round-up: Jamie Spencer will now ride the ante-post each-way gamble Grand Reward in the Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas after the late defection of One Cool Cat at yesterday's declaration stage.
The enigmatic $3.1 million One Cool Cat didn't figure among the final declared field of eight colts after scoping badly at Ballydoyle yesterday morning.
"He didn't scope perfect but we would hope to have him back for Ascot," said the colt's trainer Aidan O'Brien. "He will have an easy week or 10 days and hopefully then he can run at Ascot."
O'Brien will now be represented at the Curragh tomorrow by Grand Reward and Newton as he goes in search of a fifth success in the 2,000 Guineas.
"We've always thought Grand Reward is a very good colt. He hasn't had the best of luck with one or two things going wrong last season. He's had one run back in the Tetrarch which we were delighted with," he added.
Grand Reward was 33 to 1 when ante-post betting opened early in the week but was quickly bet down to 16 to 1 and is now as low as 8 to 1 with the sponsors.
Apart from One Cool Cat there were no surprises in the final field for the first Irish classic of the season with Dermot Weld declaring Grey Swallow, despite a little concern about the going, as well as the complete outsider Hayburn Street.
"The track is in great order, in great condition," said Weld. "We'll have to see what it's like closer to the race but I would hope there are a few showers overnight."
Weld will run Cairdeas, owned by the President, Mary McAleese, in Sunday's Gallinule Stakes and a decision about whether or not the colt will run in the Epsom Derby will be taken afterwards.
Cairdeas was backed for the Derby yesterday but Weld was playing down any significance to that. "The President has a horse of potential but if it is Derby potential I don't know. He has never worked with the likes of Grey Swallow or Relaxed Gesture. All we can do is run in the Gallinule and then we'll see about anything else," said Weld.
Steve Drowne will be on board the main cross-channel Guineas hope Leitrim House, who beat Grand Reward in the Tetrach last time, while Seb Sanders will be on James Toller's Bachelor Duke.
Horse Racing Ireland have announced an additional flat fixture at Ballinrobe on June 22nd. It will be an evening meeting.
Punchestown hosts an all-National Hunt card this evening but the fast ground will be very far from the usual winter slog at the Co Kildare track.
The conditions chase is topped by four horses who won their last starts and, while Ballynattin Buck was impressive at Limerick, it is still hard to get away from One Night Out.
Willie Mullins's horse finally broke his maiden over fences at Fairyhouse last time but officially he has 9lb in hand on Ballynattin Buck and that will be a hard gap for the latter to bridge.
Ruby Walsh can also score on Gold Blended who has his first start for seven months in the opening maiden hurdle while Domnul Admiral was not beaten by much when third to O'Driscoll at Fairyhouse and can win in the second maiden.
BETTING FOR 2,000 Guineas - Boylesports: 13-8 Azamour, 2 Grey Swallow, 5 Leitrim House, 8 Grand Reward, 9 Bachelor Duke, 33 Newton, Amarula Ridge, 66 Hayburn Street. Paddy Power: 6-4 Azamour, 9-4 Grey Swallow, 5 Leitrim House, 8 Bachelor Duke, Grand Reward, 33 Amarula Ridge, Newton, 50 Hayburn Street.
