Galway/Saturday preview and news: Aidan O'Brien will be hoping Powerscourt can provide the Ballydoyle yard with a second Group One of the season in Germany tomorrow but before that there is the little matter of Scandinavia in this afternoon's juvenile maiden at Galway.
The mile event threw up the talented Wolfe Tone last year and in 2002 the race was won by The Great Gatsby, who went on to finish runner-up to Kris Kin in the Epsom Derby.
Scandinavia has let down supporters on both his starts to date, but the form of his efforts behind Indesatchel and Elusive Double has been boosted with the latter graduating to Stakes class. Dermot Weld is represented by Set In Motion but Scandinavia should make it third-time lucky.
O'Brien won a Ballybrit bumper with King Of Spades earlier in the week and might pick up another with the newcomer Bronco Charlie today but his main weekend focus will be on the continent.
Powerscourt (Jamie Spencer) goes in the Group One Grosser Dallmayr-Preis over 10 furlongs in Munich and the O'Brien-Spencer team will be hoping the colt will better Brian Boru's German expedition last weekend which saw him out of the frame.
Today's local feature is the Dawn Milk Handicap Hurdle where Thursday's Galway Hurdle-runner Gemini Guest bids for compensation against a strong field that includes last season's prolific winner Patrizio.
Eoin Griffin's horse hasn't seen a track for almost 11 months and if there is a fitness issue with him then an each-way option looks to be Al Towd, who ran well enough behind Loyal earlier in the week on very fast ground.
Lily Shing Shang upset the warm favourite Zeroberto over a mile and a half here on Thursday and tries to double up in the two-mile handicap for Pat Hughes.
An interesting opponent though is the veteran, Back On Top, who has a first start on the flat for over a year since he beat Blue Away at the Curragh. Back On Top's rating has dropped in the meantime and stamina will not be an issue with him.
Irish Stream has a little bit to find with Dr Knock and Kaoutchou on ratings in the opening maiden hurdle but a narrow win from Caviar Royale over a mile at Naas previously proves that Ruby Walsh's mount is in peak form.
