Racing News and previews: One Cool Cat continues to receive top marks in his preparation for Saturday week's Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.
The $3.1-million Storm Cat colt suffered an irregular heartbeat during his desperately disappointing effort in the Newmarket Guineas, but Aidan O'Brien remains confident he will be able to try to redeem his huge reputation on home ground.
"He has a heart monitor on him the whole time and so far everything has been going good with him. The Irish Guineas remains the plan," O'Brien said yesterday.
It's not so clear-cut about One Cool Cat's four-year-old stable companion Brian Boru, but O'Brien still hasn't ruled the St Leger winner out of an appearance in Epsom's Coronation Cup.
Brian Boru was a disappointment in the Group Three Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh 11 days ago behind Nysaean, but no physical reason for that performance has come to light.
"Brian Boru has been fine since and Epsom is still a possible for him," O'Brien explained.
Before that, the Ballydoyle trainer will launch a major raid on Sunday's French Guineas meeting at Longchamp.
Antonius Pius is the likely stable number one for the 2,000 Guineas (Poule D'Essai des Poulains), but O'Brien has also left in Grand Reward, Newton and Tumblebrutus among the 15 left in the race. The home team will be headed by American Post and last year's champion European juvenile, Bago.
Royal Tigress heads a three-strong Ballydoyle entry for the 1,000 Guineas (Poule D'Essai des Pouliches) which also includes Kisses For Me and Follow, while Esperanto remains the most likely O'Brien starter in the Prix Lupin, although Meath is also an entry for the traditional French Derby trial.
Racing goes west of the Shannon this evening to Ballinrobe, where Maralan can carry the Aga Khan colours to success in the nine-furlong maiden.
With Mick Kinane on Dante duty at York, Fran Berry takes the ride on Maralan, who floundered on the very heavy ground when favourite at Listowel last time out.
Before that he had also been fourth to Gilberto at Leopardstown and the forecast "good to yielding" surface should be much more suitable for the Priolo colt.
Ruby Walsh travels west for the mount on the Willie Mullins four-year-old Diego Garcia, who takes on older horses in the conditions hurdle.
A big threat is likely to be the consistent Hardy Duckett, but Mullins has a line to that horse, having beaten him with Arch Stanton at the Punchestown festival.
Conor O'Dwyer and Arthur Moore have a decent record at the Co Mayo track and Green Finger looks interesting in the Beginners Chase, while O'Dwyer can also be on the mark on Life Begins, third to Greywell in a Wexford novice in March, in the handicap chase.
