Racing News round-upFirst Charter has been given the green light to try and fill another St Leger blank for Michael Stoute at the Curragh on Saturday.
The Newmarket trainer has never won the Doncaster Leger and last weekend had to again settle for runner-up when Quiff failed to overhaul Rule Of Law.
As in England, the Irish Field St Leger is the one Irish Classic that Stoute has yet to win despite a total of 11 Classic victories to date in this country, including a remarkable six in the Oaks.
The Stoute team yesterday confirmed First Charter on course for the Leger and he will help make up a sizable British challenge which will be declared at this morning's 48-hour stage.
As well as First Charter, the supplementary entry Orange Touch, The Whistling Teal and Alcazar are also on target for the race as well as the Gerard Butler -trained Jagger who will be ridden by Declan McDonogh.
Another veteran English trainer on the scent of a first Irish Leger victory will be Barry Hills who will saddle Dubai Success (Michael Hills). Alcazar hasn't run since unplaced in the Ascot Gold Cup but his trainer Hughie Morrison said: "I shouldn't have run him at Ascot. The ground was like the road. He goes well fresh and we're hoping to get into the money. Michael Fenton will ride."
The big home hope is again Vinnie Roe who is a 5 to 2 favourite with Powers to complete an unprecedented four-timer in the Irish Leger.
The ground at the Curragh remains officially "good" and no change is expected by the weekend despite some showers forecast over the next two days.
That will leave John Oxx with a decision ahead of Sunday's Dunnes Stores National Stakes as his possible contender Laudable ideally likes very quick conditions. Hazarista is a definite contender though for the Group Two Blandford Stakes.
One decision that has been finalised, however, is that Azamour will be trained for the Champion Stakes at Newmarket and if the ground allows him run there it will be his final start of the season.
"The Champion is the obvious race for him over the obvious distance and he will have only one more run this season. He does want quick ground so if he doesn't get that it would put us in a spot. But we are leaning towards running him at four, so he will have just one more run this year," John Oxx said yesterday. "He definitely won't run in the Arc. He may run over a mile and a half at some stage as a four-year-old but at this stage a mile and a quarter looks ideal for him," he added.
Dermot Weld is busy putting the final touches to Vinnie Roe's bid for Leger glory but he presents an interesting proposition at Tipperary this afternoon where Set In Motion can give the National Stakes contender Scandinavia a form boost in the nine furlong maiden.
Weld's colt got to within two lengths of the odds-on favourite at Galway and his experience could tip things his way against the Curragh third Finns Fury.
Michael Kinane is on the topweight Glinting Desert in the Nursery, where the trainer James Burns also runs Mountain Creek, while the champion jockey is on an interesting newcomer Allexina in the opener. Alota Baby has a 6lb penalty for winning at Kilbeggan six days ago but looks goods to complete a hat-trick in the handicap hurdle.
IRISH ST LEGER BETTING
Paddy Power: 5-2 Vinnie Roe, 7-2 First Charter, 11-2 Brian Boru, 6 Orange Touch, 7 Tycoon, 8 Dubai Success, 12 bar.
