RACING/Irish previews: The Dermot Weld team are on the trail of a transatlantic Group race double tonight, and Medicinal looks a bet to at least bring off the home leg at Leopardstown.
Medicinal is the sole three-year-old in the five-runner Meld Stakes, where he will be ridden by Pat Shanahan as the stable jockey, Pat Smullen, is on duty in Chicago for Simple Exchange in the Grade Two American Derby.
Weld himself is also in the US as he bids to continue his excellent record in the Arlington race, having won with Evolving Tactics last year and Pine Dance in 2000.
"Simple Exchange seems to be in great form and ready to go," said Weld's son Kris yesterday.
Simple Exchange's only start of 2004 yielded a fourth in the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot, but Medicinal has been comparatively busy and reaped the reward for decent efforts behind Yeats and Grey Swallow with a smooth win in the Silver Stakes over the course and distance last month.
Medicinal's problem that night was that he travelled almost too well through the race, but the form of his half-length defeat of Grand Passion now reads pretty well since the latter won at the Curragh.
"This was the obvious target after the Silver Stakes and he has done very well. It's a competitive race, but we're hopeful and the ground should be perfect," Weld added.
John Dunlop's Big Bad Bob has to concede weight, but the danger to Medicinal could be Cache Creek, who is also rated 107 and who was impressive on the course last time.
The cross-sea raiders look to have a better shout in the Listed Sweet Mimosa Stakes as Mick Kinane has been booked for the consistent Ruby Rocket, who ran second to Tante Rose in a Group race at York. Moon Unit's form ties in with Osterhase, but preference is for Hughie Morrison's runner.
Aidan O'Brien's juveniles have been improving significantly for racing and the Ballydoyle trainer presents something of a quandary in the Listed Tyros Stakes by running three horses.
Jamie Spencer has elected to side with the course winner Amsterdam, but that one's narrow success from King Of Tory hardly gives it a huge form edge over his stable companion Scandinavia.
The other track winner, Stagelight, is also a contender, as is the Weld runner Elusive Double.
That one beat Scandinavia on his Tipperary debut, but it could be worth taking another chance with the Ballydoyle horse who has proven expensive to follow so far but who is clearly smart.
O'Brien can also score with the Navan winner Ace in the last, and Ocean Bounty's form with Cache Creek at Roscommon reads pretty well in the mile and a quarter handicap.
Down at Wexford, Bassett Tiger is 8lb higher for a course success over two and a half miles last time but now has to carry 12st over three miles in the handicap chase. The trip is an interesting factor, but Ruby Walsh's mount is still a major contender.
