News round-up: Damson might be a red-hot, 1 to 3 favourite for Sunday's feature at the Curragh, but if she wins it will be a rare victory for the fillies in Europe's first Group One of the season for juveniles.
It's 10 years since Eva Luna became the last filly to win the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes, and just four have come out on top in the last 20 years.
The Curragh authorities are, however, predicting a small field of six or seven runners for the big race, and Cashmans have left the unbeaten Queen Mary Stakes winner as their 1 to 3 market leader.
It's 5 to 2 the Aidan O'Brien stable, but the Ballydoyle trainer is leaving a decision as to the final composition of his challenge as late as possible.
"We will have to see what happens on the weather front, as the forecast is a bit mixed," said O'Brien yesterday. He has five entries in the Phoenix, including the Anglesey winner Oratorio and Russian Blue, who won the Marble Hill.
The ground on the straight course at the Curragh is "good" and little change is expected by Sunday. It is "good to firm" on the round track and watering has stopped.
"With the forecast we have it would be foolish to water," said the Curragh manager, Paul Hensey. "We got 11.2 millimetres of rain on Tuesday night and there's five millimetres forecast for Thursday night, with something similar on Saturday night. With a bit of luck the ground doesn't look like changing."
Kevin Prendergast first won the six-furlong contest with Areola in 1970 and will look for a fourth success from Camouflage and Premier Dane.
His other entry, Yaria, may wait for the Debutante Stakes on the same card.
The Eddie Lynam-trained Lock And Key will be a first ride in a Group race for the season's top apprentice, Cathy Gannon.
Dermot Weld sends a couple of runners to tonight's Kilbeggan fixture, and there will be plenty very interested in how Lowlander's jumping stands up in the Beginners Chase.
The five-year-old started favourite at Galway last week, but three serious errors left him with a mountain to climb. Nevertheless, he still looked like taking a hand in the finish right up to the last furlong, and if Lowlander tightens up his jumping he should beat the Wexford runner-up Trotsky.
Ruby Walsh teams up with Weld for the ride on Amid The Chaos in the opening maiden, and if a tumble at Galway hasn't left a mark they should come out on top.
It could be a very good evening for Walsh, who can make a difference to Ballybrit form on Tipp Top in the Kieran Kelly Memorial Handicap Chase.
The former champion is also on Story Nine in the mares' maiden hurdle, and this one's jumping debut behind Silent Thoughts over the course and distance looks promising in this context.
