RACING:Dewhurst winner Intense Focus is one of only seven entries in Sunday's Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes.
Jim Bolger’s charge beat Lord Shanakill by a nose to give Bolger his third consecutive victory in the prestigious Group One event after Teofilo and New Approach. The trainer has also entered maiden winner Vocalised.
Dermot Weld, who won the corresponding race 12 months ago with the classy Famous Name, has entered Liebermann, while Kevin Prendergast could give Recharge the chance to shine.
Aidan O’Brien has three possibles at this stage. Gowran maiden scorer Born to Be King, Grand Ducal, third to Arazan in the Futurity Stakes, and Hail Caesar, sixth in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud on his final start last year, could represent Ballydoyle.
O’Brien’s Heart Shaped, beaten a nose in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, heads three entries for the yard in the 1,000 Guineas Trial.
The Storm Cat filly had previously finished fifth in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket and she is one of three possibles for O’Brien along with Empress Of France and newcomer Totally Devoted.
Weld’s Firey Red, beaten a short-head in the Park Express Stakes last weekend, could bid for quick redemption while stablemates Dance Pass and Luminous Eyes could also run.
David Wachman has Chintz, already a Group Three winner, and What’s Up Pussycat engaged while Brian Nolan has Sally Cinnamon and Monivea to chose from.
Bolger’s sole representative is Maoineach, a Group Three winner on her debut but last of 16 on her only other start in the Prix Marcel Boussac.
The sole British representative is Kevin Ryan’s Undaunted Affair while Beauthea, Hallie’s Comet and Smart Coco complete the 15 entries.
Meanwhile, Willie Mullins hasn’t ruled out running his exciting novice hurdler Hurricane Fly on the level in the coming weeks.
The five-year-old has been given a speculative entry in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup and while that remains a long-shot, Mullins is still considering his options.
“He’s back riding again, he had an easy time while I was away at Cheltenham,” said Mullins. “He’s certainly a lot sounder. He went to the vets the other day and they were much happier with him and my aim is to go to Punchestown.
“Certainly his flat form is good enough to run him in Group races at least. I’ve just entered him in the Tattersalls because we don’t know how quick he is going to come back into fast work.
“I’m hoping to get him to Punchestown, if not we’ll have a look at the Flat or Auteuil later in the season or maybe I’ll just rough him off and concentrate on next season.
“The Champion Hurdle next season would be the plan. He certainly has the potential for that but he has to stay right and this problem has to go away, which it should.”