IRISH RACING/News: Irrawaddy could lead the Ballydoyle assault on another Gimcrack Stakes if he stays clear of the coughing at Aidan O'Brien's yard.

The Nureyev colt is sickness-free at the moment and if he remains so will try and follow in the recent footsteps of Rock Of Gibraltar and Mull Of Kintyre.

The Gimcrack is the main two- year-old contest for colts at York next week and Irrawaddy will need to step up considerably on his last start when well beaten in the Norfolk Stakes.

"Our other two-year-old runners at York might be the Cork winner Reach For The Moon in the Lowther and Miguel Cervantes in the five-furlong Listed race.

"But it all depends on them staying healthy," O'Brien said yesterday.

Another Irish-trained possible for the Lowther is the Jim Bolger trained Danaskaya who beat Rock Of Gibraltar's brother Great Pyramid on her Naas debut.

Dress To Thrill's task in Sunday's Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown was eased yesterday with confirmation that Atlantis Prince will miss the Group Three event.

The Godolphin spokesman Simon Crisford confirmed the former Royal Lodge winner will not be travelling for the mile contest.

The Ballydoyle apprentice Paul Scallan will be hoping Tramore can go ahead this evening as he could pick up the nine furlong maiden on Flurry Knox.

This one finished less than five lengths off Ulysees in a decent maiden at Galway and although he has a bit to find on the ratings with the Cork runner up Vanity Jane, Scallan's 3lb claim could be important.

The other top Ballydoyle apprentice, Colm O'Donoghue, picked up a first Group One on Spartacus at the Curragh on Sunday and might end up on the scoresheet again here.

Gallileo Strike picked up the nine furlong handicap last year and should relish the decent ground compared to what he ran on in Galway behind Camargue.

A trio of Cork bumper winners look set to dominate the finish of the amateur maiden hurdle. Take A Drop won on Monday but preference is for Davy Russell's mount Coolgarrow.

There were seven casualties in total at Tramore yesterday with four horses slipping up on the bend past the stands.

An ugly incident in the opening Bank Of Ireland Handicap Hurdle saw Sockittothem slip up on the bend past the stands and his fall resulted in both Adari and Shandy Girl being brought down. Larry Hurley, rider of Shandy Girl, suffered a broken collar bone.

Kilmoney Gamble was the sole casualty in the 12-furlong Shay Brennan Memorial Handicap, but an early end to the day's action was called ater a further three horses came down in the Queally Group Handicap.

A number of riders expressed their concerns after the running of the opening event and the running rail on the bend past the stands was realigned in time for the second race.

However, with a repeat of the opening race melee in the third race, racing was abandoned after the track was inspected by stewards, trainers and jockeys.

Keith Hogan will remember the afternoon for different reasons as he rode his first winner on Krosno for trainer Irene Oakes in the Bank Of Ireland Handicap Hurdle.

Sean Cleary landed the Shay Brennan Memorial Handicap on Sean Treacy's Dunbrody Cove while Fran Berry, who almost came down at the three-furlong pole in that race, rode Noel Meade's Albrighton to win the Queally Group Handicap.

THE Tramore authorities are "optimistic" about the track passing an inspection at 10.00 this morning, writes Brian O'Connor.

Racing was abandoned yesterday after just three races when the ground was judged to be unsafe. A number of horses had fallen on the flat at the bend away from the stands.

The Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan said: "About three hours of rain the previous night had put give in the top inch of the ground. But underneath that they were hitting hard going." The Turf Club inspector of courses Bill McLernon was on his way to Tramore last night to participate in this morning's inspection.

"Either rain or a dry night should make that top inch of ground okay," Egan added.