Racing Weekend preview: Alamshar is scheduled to put his Classic credentials on the line at Leopardstown tomorrow but only after a less than perfect build-up that may yet stop him from running
The colt's trainer John Oxx yesterday described Alamshar as "90 per cent certain" to run in the Derrinstown Derby Trial but a final decision won't be taken until this morning.
A burst abscess on Alamshar's near-hind leg was discovered during the week and the 7 to 2 joint favourite for the Epsom Derby was not fully fluent when he cantered on Thursday.
However, Oxx said yesterday: "He was much improved when he cantered this morning and if he shows the same improvement tomorrow he will run.
"I would describe him as 90 per cent certain but it has not been an ideal week. His next bit of strong work will be the race."
It's an unforeseen scare for Oxx whose primary concern up to now has been to tone down the use of the "S" word on the build up to Epsom.
The last three winners of the Derrinstown have also gone on to win the Derby, starting with Sinndar who started the trend in the year 2000.
So far Oxx has managed to deflect some of the hype surrounding his new classic hope Alamshar and not made headline grabbing comparisons to his former star. But it's getting harder.
"We will find out a bit more about Alamshar on Sunday, see if he is up to it. But he has got to keep improving. Every time Sinndar went out he was 7lb better than the last time," Oxx said.
Hopefully the clash with old rival Brian Boru, who failed to Alamshar by a head in the Beresford Stakes last year but then went on to Group One glory, can go ahead.
Brian Boru has to concede 5lb tomorrow but since officially he is rated 116 compared to Alamshar's 112 there is little in it officially.
Both colts have their pacemakers and neither is likely to make the same mistake in letting their stable companions go, as happened in the Ballysax last month.
Alamshar should prevail if making it to Leopardstown.
Of more concern for Oxx might be the give in the ground, and for O'Brien there will be more than a little anxiety after the Guineas flops at Newmarket last weekend.
There is a lot riding on Brian Boru following in the footsteps of Galileo and High Chaparral.
Rainbows For All can upset the likely favourite, Flamelet, in the Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial.
Over at Longchamp tomorrow O'Brien will have two shots at the French 2,000 Guineas (France and Catcher In The Rye) and also in the Prix Lupin (Alberto Giacometti and Balestrini).
But the real Ballydoyle focus is still likely to be on Brian Boru who is currently a 6 to 1 third favourite for Epsom.
"Giving 5lb and not having had a run, makes it a big task. If he runs a good race we will still have four weeks to Epsom," O'Brien said yesterday.
Before the Classic trials, the home action today is at Fairyhouse where last year's Ash Handicap winner Detach could double up. At Killarney tomorrow, the locally-trained Total Enjoyment can reverse Punchestown form with Brutto Facie if ridden patiently.
