RACING: Ireland may be basking in a mini-heatwave, but the Curragh authorities maintain they have no plans to water the track ahead of Sunday's Darley Irish Oaks.
The going at headquarters is currently "good", and forecasts suggest there may not be much change ahead of the fillies classic.
"A band of rain is expected to cross the country on Tuesday and Wednesday and we will wait and see what that brings.
"But the watering we did for the Derby has paid off and at present we have no plans to water," Curragh manager Paul Hensey said.
Ouija Board completed the Epsom-Curragh Oaks double last year, but Eswarah was described yesterday as being "unlikely" to try to emulate that and add to her Epsom victory last month.
"We will talk it over with Sheikh Hamdam and make a final decision on Tuesday," said Sheikh Hamdan's spokesman Angus Gold.
"We will take another look at the race before then, but she is also in the King George and the Nassau."
Despite Eswarah's likely absence, there will be no shortage of overseas interest. Last season's leading two-year-old, Dash To The Top, will try to provide her new jockey John Murtagh with a fourth victory in the race after her winning comeback at Newcastle two weeks ago.
There is also the likelihood of the Aga Khan shelving out a €40,000 supplementary fee for the Alain de-Royer Dupre-trained Shawanda at tomorrow's declaration stage.
The daughter of Sinndar has won three of her four starts, including an easy success in the Group Three Prix de Royaumat at Chantilly over a month ago. It's 12 years since the last French-trained winner of the Oaks, Wemyss Bight.
It could be a very expensive race for the Aga Khan, as another €40,000 will be needed to get the unbeaten Behkiyra into the Oaks.
The John Oxx-trained filly impressed when winning a Listed race at Limerick on her last start.
Also set to fly the home flag are the Moyglare winner Chelsea Rose and Frances Crowley's Saoire, who will attempt to become the first since Godetia in 1979 to complete the Curragh Guineas-Oaks double.
There will, however, be Group One action with a likely Irish interest before that, as Aidan O'Brien's Irish Derby runner-up Scorpion is set to be supplemented into the Grand Prix de Paris today at a cost of €30,000.
Longchamp's highlight is being held on Bastille Day on Thursday, and Kieren Fallon will be able to ride Scorpion despite the two-day ban he picked up for his Eclipse-winning ride on Oratorio.
The Group One exemption for suspensions of one or two days has kicked in, letting Fallon free to team up with the colt he beat at the Curragh on Hurricane Run.
Killarney's four-day July festival kicks off this evening, and although the featured €21,000 Chase sees last year's winner, Mutakarrim, face just two opponents, the rest of the card looks typically competitive.
Declan McDonogh looks like he could be the jockey to follow in the Kingdom in the flat races as the auction maiden distance will be right up the street for Keyhopper, and Morning Glow could get revenge on the topweight Arcelie in the 11-furlong handicap.
Keyhopper relished the hike up to seven furlongs at Tipperary and was only beaten a length by the Ballydoyle colt Dylan Thomas.
The extra distance here should be even better for him.
Charlottine was a decent third to Broomfield Lad at Gowran last Wednesday and should make her presence felt in the first division of the handicap, while the second part may fall to the lightly-weighted April Dancer.
