The Irish St Leger hero Vinnie Roe will not attempt to follow in the Melbourne Cup footsteps of Vintage Crop and instead will bid for a Leger double in France.
Longchamp's Prix Royal Oak, the French St Leger, in 22 days time is Vinnie Roe's new target after the political uncertainty worldwide persuaded trainer Dermot Weld there could be problems transporting Vinnie Roe to Australia.
The colt had been in quaran tine but the uncertainty about flights means he is now out and the French race, which is run over almost two miles on Octo ber 28th, is the new aim.
Before that, Weld has a busy weekend ahead as he runs Final Exam in tomorrow's Prix de l'Abbaye, the veteran Tarry Flynn in Tipperary's Group Three Concorde Stakes and the trainer is also sure to have a say in today's Curragh feature which commerorates his father, Charlie.
The CL Weld Park Stakes has attracted the Eoghan O'Neill- trained Kempton winner Red Rioja from Newmarket and Weld himself will be trying for a sixth win in the race with the maiden Easy Sunshine.
The main home hope, however, appears to be the Fairyhouse winner Minatonic who was beaten by Miss Beabea last time but who should appreciate the extra furlong here.
Weld's 112-rated Jammaal looks the answer to the last while the $6.8 million Tasmanian Tiger will be the focus of attention in the seven-furlong maiden.
The rapidly softening ground will hardly be ideal for the Galway Plate hero Grimes as he takes on stable companion Bannow Bay and the Galway Hurdle hero Ansar in the £65,000 McManus Hurdle tomorrow. Nevertheless, he still has 10lb in hand on the ratings and can highlight a good day for owner JP McManus. The novice hurdler Hartigan should also score for him.
Adamant Approach, so often the bookies pal over the smaller obstacles in the past, finally got his act together and justified favouritism in the Rossmore Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse yesterday.
Willie Mullins seven-year-old, who became one of the leading fancies for last year's Cheltenham bumper after slamming Risk Accessor on his debut at Leopardstown, was always prominent under David Casey and cruised to the front on the run to the penultimate flight to score from market rival Columba.
"He disappointed us last year but I was happy with him today and the good ground was a help. We'll find a nice novice race for him next," said Mullins.
Coolcullen trainer Jim Bolger captured the training honours on the level with a double with Set The Style (Nursery) before Phariseek, a costly failure on her debut at Tralee in August, came good in the seven-furlong maiden.
However, Set The Style's rider, Sean Cleary, was banned for four days for careless riding after the stewards investigated an incident which took place over four furlongs from home.
Noel Meade's Missing You Too reversed recent course and distance placings with Galtip Flyer after he shrugged off the challenge of Crusset in the opening Birch 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.
