Racing: All Too Beautiful can fill in a rare Group One blank for Aidan O'Brien in today's Audi Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.
The 11-runner highlight features a fascinating clash of the generations with four members of the Classic crop taking on the older horses, and half of that quartet are top-flight winners already.
Saoire comes here on the back of a game win in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, while last year's Moyglare heroine, Chelsea Rose, put in a fine effort to win her sole start of the year. Both are being targeted at the Oaks back here next month.
But for All Too Beautiful today is very much "it", as O'Brien has had this race in mind since the end of her three-year-old career. That yielded a runner-up placing at Epsom in the Oaks, a fourth in the Irish equivalent and the firm impression that the full sister to the 2001 Irish Derby winner Galileo would be better at four.
So far the decision to keep All Too Beautiful in training has yielded a narrow win at York, when she probably saw too much daylight for too long. Kieren Fallon will be keen to keep her covered today and things will have to go right against a competitive field.
Last year's runner-up Alexander Goldrun was third in Singapore on her last start and will be a potent threat on quick ground, while the best of the raiders could well be the German filly Elopa.
This has always been All Too Beautiful's priority though and O'Brien and Fallon can see the long-term plan bear fruit.
Even longer has gone into getting Magritte back to the track for the Group Three attheraces Curragh Cup. The colt hasn't run since third in the 2003 Racing Post Trophy, and it will be a big ask against the likes of last year's winner Mkuzi.
A bigger problem for Magritte, however, may be Orpington. Dermot Weld's progressive four-year-old is a winner on good to firm ground and his only run of 2005 can be ignored as he had a sinus problem.
Mkuzi's brother Swiss Cottage beat Helvetio on his last start and will go close in the 10 furlong handicap, while stable companion Raydan can get off the mark in the last.
The going will hold no fears for the well-bred Society Hostess in the opening fillies handicap and Shane Gorey's 7lb claim is no hindrance either.
