Aidan O'Brien and Kieren Fallon will try to continue their Group One winning streak with Ace in tomorrow's Juddmonte International at York after Powerscourt's demolition of his Arlington Million opposition on Saturday night.
Powerscourt made up for his demotion in the 2004 Million with a smooth three-length defeat of the favourite Kitten's Joy and that followed up on George Washington's top level success at the Curragh the previous weekend.
Yesterday, O'Brien revealed that Powerscourt could repeat last year's pattern and run next in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next month. The horse was third to Azamour in the race last season.
"He was unlucky in that race because he got to the front a bit soon. But he wasn't beaten far," said O'Brien, who added that the Breeders Cup Turf - a race he finished third in at Lone Star Park last year - in October could also be on Powerscourt's future agenda.
The Ballydoyle trainer also reported that in addition to Ace, the maiden winner Avalon will take part in the Great Voltiguer Stakes tomorrow: "We also look like running Beauty Bright in the Lowther Stakes on Thursday."
Fallon and O'Brien were out of luck with their other runners in Chicago at the weekend. Mona Lisa who didn't get the clearest run in seventh behind the Beverly D Stakes winner Angara while Grand Central could only finish fourth to Gun Salute in the Secretariat Stakes.
Ace is one of only seven left in the Juddmonte after yesterday's declaration stage but the Ballydoyle raider will have to face the top Japanese horse Zenno Rob Roy as well as Michael Kinane's mount, the Italian Group One winner Electrocutionist.
Kinane is at Roscommon tonight to ride for John Oxx, but an outside ride on Bush Maiden in the fillies handicap could be a winning one. The five-year-old mare ran a fine third to the well-bred Burren Rose in a good handicap at Cork last time..
High Diving was an easy winner on the flat at the Galway festival and is worth noting in the handicap hurdle this evening while Bawaader, a costly failure behind The Carbon Unit at Ballybrit, looks a logical pick for the maiden now that he is upped a couple of furlongs. Ruby Walsh is a significant booking for Akasian in the handicap chase.
