Horse Racing: The Curragh authorities began watering the track yesterday as conditions look like remaining quick for Sunday's Darley Irish Oaks.
A total of 10mms was put on the round track after an early-morning decision to begin a watering policy for the week.
The Curragh manager, Paul Hensey, said: "We didn't get the rainfall we expected on Sunday and the forecast changed as well with not as much rain now expected through the week. Based on that we decided to start on the watering.
"The objective is to start the weekend on safe ground, as near to good as we can. At the moment it is good to firm here."
That won't be great news for the possible German runner in Sunday's classic as La Ina reportedly needs some cut in the going to be at her best.
Frankie Dettori has won two of the last three renewals of the Oaks and this time he will be on board Godolphin's Punctilious who will travel to the Curragh on the back of a success in Royal Ascot's Ribblesdale Stakes.
The Godolphin trainer, Saeed bin Suroor, confirmed the Oaks is the plan for Punctilious who was unsuited by the track when third to Ouija Board at Epsom.
The odds on ante-post favourite, Ouija Board, is scheduled to be supplemented into the Oaks at a cost of €40,000 at today's forfeit stage.
The main warm-up dish for the Oaks will be the reappearance of One Cool Cat in Saturday's ladbrokes.com International Stakes.
The 2,000 Guineas flop was one of 17 left in the Group Three mile event yesterday and the forecast quick going should be no problem for the Storm Cat colt who won the National Stakes on the course last year.
One Cool Cat, who was one of five left in the race by Aidan O'Brien, could end up facing an old rival.
Wathab failed by only a length to One Cool Cat in the National Stakes but has had just the one race so far for his new trainer Dermot Weld.
That came in the Loughbrown Stakes at the start of April but Wathab features among the 17 left in the International Stakes.
The entry also includes five British-trained horses including the Barry Hills-trained Fokine who found only Khyleyef too good in Royal Ascot's Jersey Stakes.
A total of 21 remain in the Ladbroke Rockingham Handicap which includes the sole cross-channel entry, Halmahera, from the Kevin Ryan stable.
The home team is likely to include the Scurry winner, Ulfah, from the Kevin Prendergast yard.
It's day two of the Killarney festival where Jamie Spencer, who will be on board All Too Beautiful in the Oaks, can score in the fillies maiden on Sakkara.
David Wachman's filly is rated 87 and being by Sadler's Wells she should be much more at home on this kind of ground than the firm she experienced on her only start of this season at Naas.
Windsor Boy has his first start over fences in the novice chase but Ballynattin Buck's experience should give him the edge while The Last Hurrah is another who should relish the going in the conditions race.
Pharviva has a lot of weight in the handicap hurdle but is in such good form that a four-timer is not beyond the Halford runner.
