Curragh preview: Nobody saddled more winners than Dermot Weld during the 2006 flat season and the legendary trainer looks the man to follow at the Curragh tomorrow when the 2007 campaign kicks off.
The first stages of the €100 million redevelopment work at Irish racing's headquarters is well under way but there is nothing new in the reports about Weld's powerful string being well forward and Bawaader can prove a reassuring presence for punters in the €100,000 Ladbrokes Lincolnshire.
Bawaader thrashed the Lincolnshire field to the tune of eight lengths last year, the first of 68 Weld winners in total, and while a 15lb rise in the ratings might rule out a similar rout this time, he is working well and it's significant that a quick follow-up attempt at next weekend's English Lincoln hasn't been ruled out.
Weld was the last man to saddle a double Lincolnshire winner (Tarry Flynn in 1998-2001) although the 2005 hero Victram is also aiming to bounce back to form after a jumping campaign.
There have been encouraging reports about Weld's juvenile Jade Mountain for the opening race of the season and he could be the alternative to Ballydoyle's first runner of 2007, the 300,000 guineas purchase Georgebernardshaw.
Pat Smullen has been installed an 11 to 8 favourite with some bookmakers to win a fourth jockeys' championship this year and a VC Bet spokesman said yesterday: "We've made Pat favourite purely in having the strong Dermot Weld team behind him."
The current title-holder, Declan McDonogh, is next best at 13 to 8 with Seamus Heffernan, who is set to step in for the banned Kieren Fallon in Ireland until June, rated a 5 to 1 shot.
The dark horse in the jockeys' race will be the 19-year-old double champion apprentice Chris Hayes who will ride the majority of Lady O'Reilly's string in Ireland this year and who could get the partnership off to a flying start with Regalline tomorrow.
The unraced daughter of the Group One winner Rebelline has always been highly regarded and there have been some glowing reports on her work before the six-furlong maiden.
Aidan O'Brien runs the 2,000 Guineas entry, Abraham Lincoln, in this and he hasn't been seen since last May when he was noticeably green in his two starts. But a lot of fingers will be burned if Regalline doesn't go in first time.
Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning face a momentous classic year with both Teofilo and Finsceal Beo and the team look capable of landing the first black type event of 2007, the Lodge Park Park Express Stakes, with La Conquistadora who can score for the three year olds against last year's winner Danehill Music.
Irish jockeys' title betting, VC: 11-8 Pat Smullen, 13-8 Declan McDonogh, 5 Seamus Heffernan, 10 Fran Berry, 16 John Murtagh, 40 Michael Kinane, 50 Chris Hayes, 100 others.
