Tommy Stack's highly-rated juvenile Drayton only just lost his unbeaten record at the Curragh on Derby day but could try and regain winning form in France's first big two-year-old prize of the season at Maisons-Laffitte on Sunday. Brian O'Connor, Racing Correspondent, reports.
The Stack team are examining the possibility of running their star in the Group Two Prix Robert Papin over five and a half furlongs which would be a slight drop back in trip for the colt who was first past the post in his first three starts only to find Holy Roman Emperor just too good in the Railway Stakes 17 days ago.
That was the first time Drayton had encountered fast ground but he has emerged unscathed and may yet get the chance to record a valuable Group Two victory after all.
"We will decide about running later in the week but the French race is definitely an option. We will have to decide about ground and transport but he is in good order. He goes fine on good ground," said Stack's son, Fozzie, yesterday.
The flat action at home on Sunday will be at Fairyhouse where the flying sprinter Osterhase may attempt to land the Bulmers Belgrave Stakes over six furlongs.
The John Mulhern-trained Osterhase showed typical blinding speed to defy topweight in last weekend's Rockingham Handicap over the minimum trip at the Curragh and is one of 11 entries remaining in Sunday's Listed highlight.
Also entered is the Scurry's winner Taqseem as well as the Aidan O'Brien-trained filly Beauty Bright and Ger Lyons's Group Three winner An Tadh.
It will be an all-jumping card at Tipperary and 14 horses remain in the Grade Three Kevin McManus Bookmakers Grimes Hurdle including the joint William Hill Galway Plate topweight Euro Leader who is one of a quartet from Willie Mullins's stable.
The Plate sponsors report some substantial support for Monday's Killarney winner Teo Perugo who has been cut to 16 to 1 from 25 to 1 for the Galway festival feature.
The English-trained Ball O Malt has also been supported down to 14 to 1 but Ansar remains the 7 to 1 favourite, something William Hill don't imagine changing.
"Punters always get stuck into Dermot Weld's horses at Ballybrit so Ansar will probably go off favourite," said the Hill's spokesman, Tony Kenny.
The Killarney Festival continues this evening and Barry Geraghty and Tom Taaffe can successfully kick proceedings off with victory for Limerick Lord in the Beginners Chase.
His sole start to date over fences was a closing third to Mansony at Naas last November and a run over hurdles at Gowran last month should have put him right for a race where he looks the one most open to improvement.
Truly Gold has to concede 12lb to Stadium Project in the handicap hurdle but on the evidence of a Navan win, and a fine second at the Curragh, Denis O'Regan's mount looks up to the task.
Nina Carberry was decisive in the success of Tour De Force in the Ladies Derby at the Curragh on Sunday and can pick up another women's race in the last courtesy of the Bellewstown runner-up Eurocomach.
