RACING/Irish round-up: Horse-racing's ruling body is standing firm against a threat by the trainers association to boycott Leopardstown's controversial Saturday evening meeting on July 6th.Brian Kavanagh, the chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland,stressed yesterday that the experimental evening fixture will go ahead.

"This is very much an experiment. It does not mean the introduction of Saturday evening racing. But we are trying to introduce extra fixtures to cope with the extra horse population and also trying to facilitate racecourse needs regarding suitable times," he said.

The Irish Racehorse Trainers Association have already said they will be asking their members not to enter their horses for the meeting if it doesn't become an afternoon fixture.

"It appears that there is nothing to be gained by trainers, jockeys and staff and much to lose with unsocial hours and vastly increased staff expenses," they said.

However Kavanagh said yesterday that the controversial move is being taken to facilitate calls for extra fixtures from owners and trainers.

"The trainers are not against this in principle. In fact they voted for Saturday evening racing at their a.g.m. last year in the context of possible all-weather racing. It would be wrong of them to say there has been no consultation," he said.

Fixtures are not a problem today, with an all-jumps card at Tralee and the new Listed race, the Swordlestown Sprint, the highlight at Naas.

Richard Hannon has sent across the Warwick and Newbury winner Rag Top for the two-year-old race, while the Cathal Ryan-owned Seattle Slew filly Seattle Queen is a well-bred newcomer.

However, Aidan O'Brien knows better than anyone the lie of the land in the two-year division and it is significant he gives the Sadlers Wells filly Yesterday a first career start in this.

The bet of the day, however, could be in the opening mile and a quarter handicap where Mirpour tries to follow up his six-length win at Leopardstown last Thursday.

The Oxx runner carries a mandatory 5lb penalty but looked to have much more than that in hand when beating Mirassou. Capel Street looks the danger.

Irresistible Jewel ran third to the Derby outsider Louisville at the Curragh and should appreciate the trip in the fillies maiden while Osprey Ridge looks the bet in the seven-furlong race.

At Tralee, Jamica Plane bids to follow up at Clonmel victory on Thursday in the two-mile handicap chase and the Cork bumper winner Polly's Yan looks an interesting runner in the mares novice hurdle.