The opening of Dundalk's all-weather track in August has changed the face of flat racing in Ireland, and appropriately the country's 2007 flat season finally winds up under floodlights tonight over a month later than in previous years.
Special trophies will be presented to the championship winners tonight, and although some of the campaign's main personalities, champion jockey Pat Smullen and leading trainer Aidan O'Brien, are in Hong Kong for Sunday morning's international meeting, the Ballydoyle maestro at least can still make his presence felt.
Georgebernardshaw ran in the very first race of the season at the Curragh back in March, but two starts on the synthetic surface last month now look to have put him right for this evening's opening Nursery and further add to O'Brien's 2007 haul in Ireland.
The champion trainer has already won 67 races in Ireland this year worth prizemoney of over €5.1 million, and his 2007 tally also includes the almost £3.5 million won in Britain that also makes him the champion trainer in Britain.
Smullen, who finished fourth in a jockeys challenge event at Happy Valley on Wednesday, and who will be aboard Benbaun in Sunday's big Sprint, ends the campaign in Ireland as champion jockey for the fourth time with 94 winners.
He takes the title back from last year's winner, Declan McDonogh, while Fran Berry, also in Hong Kong for the Vase ride on Arch Rebel, finishes third on 80 winners. Chris Hayes completes a rare treble as champion apprentice, the first three-time winner in 30 years, while Sue Magnier is again champion owner with prizemoney of over €3.3 million won this season.
John Murtagh is also in the Far East gearing up for the rides on Dylan Thomas and Excellent Art on Sunday, but his absence at Dundalk shouldn't detract from the chances of Tin Cha Woody and Kevkat following up course wins on their last starts.
The O'Brien-Murtagh team got an early result yesterday after getting favourable draws for both Dylan Thomas and Excellent Art. The latter, who disputes favouritism for the Mile with the French star Darjina, will start from stall five, while Dylan Thomas has drawn seven in the Vase.
"It's fine, and it's certainly better than the States for Excellent Art," said O'Brien, referring to a bad draw in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Monmouth Park for that colt's last start. "The main thing is that the horses are happy and in good shape, but I'm happy with both draws - it gives us a chance."
O'Brien described himself as "delighted" with Dylan Thomas's morning work out yesterday, and the Arc winner remains as low as 5 to 4 favourite to complete an illustrious racing career before embarking on a stud career.
"If the going is good it will suit him. He's quicker on firmer ground. Last time he wasn't suited by the going at Monmouth Park. Obviously he's had a long, hard season and had a messy preparation last time. But he seems in good form and has worked well in the build-up," O'Brien said.
"I've been happy with his preparation, it's a good set up and an excellent system here," he added.
Excellent Art will try to go one better than his second in the Breeders' Cup Mile in October, and O'Brien reported: "Obviously he's had a long, hard season too but he seems in good form. He's been unlucky in his last three races so we're hoping for better now."
On the home front this weekend, Tony McCoy could travel to Navan on Saturday for the ride on Aranleigh, the horse he rode into fourth in last season's Cheltenham bumper, who will have his second start over jumps in the novice hurdle.
Aranleigh's trainer, Tony Mullins, said yesterday: "He's likely to run. He was a little laid-back the last day and I'm hoping there's some improvement. But this is going to be a better race. Woodbine Willie will take some beating - he was second in the champion bumper at Punchestown - and motored in over hurdles. As far as I know, AP McCoy comes over to ride him and we will see what he thinks. He was impressed with him at Cheltenham."
