Aidan O'Brien was out of luck in classic trials in two countries yesterday but will try again with Soldier Of Fortune in this afternoon's Chester Vase. A Group Two winner in last month's Prix Noailles at Longchamp, Soldier Of Fortune will be ridden by Michael Kinane when he reverts to Group Three class and is scheduled to face just four opponents in today's traditional Derby trial.
The Ballydoyle colt concedes 4lb to the others who include Michael Stoute's highly-rated Arabian Gulf as well as Jamie Spencer's mount Metaphoric.
Yesterday, All My Loving had to make do with second to Light Shift in the Cheshire Oaks while at Chantilly Chinese Whisper was third to the all-the-way winner Lawman in the Group Three Prix de Guiche over nine furlongs.
As the build up to the Derby and Oaks continues, O'Brien also has the option of lining up Archipenko in Saturday's Lingfield Trial, where Nell Gwyn is an entry in the Oaks Trial.
However, the champion trainer is building up towards the real thing in France on Sunday where both the French Guineas classics will be run with a heavy Irish presence likely.
O'Brien is four-handed in the 2,000, the Poule D'Essai Des Poulains, a classic he has won twice before with Landseer (2002) and Aussie Rules last year, and Excellent Art could have his first run for his new trainer in the mile race. Excellent Art won the Mill Reef Stakes for Neville Callaghan last season and O'Brien said yesterday: "Excellent Art is a definite possible to run but the others (Astronomer Royal, Brave Tin Soldier and Sorolla) are also possibles. They worked this morning and it will be later in the week before we decide who runs."
Significantly, last weekend's brilliant 1,000 Guineas winner Finsceal Beo remains among the 17 fillies left in the fillies classic, the Poule D'Essai Des Pouliches, along with her stable companion Gaudeamus. The 1,000 is run over the same course and distance that Finsceal Beo first burst on the Group One scene in last October's Prix Marcel Boussac, after which Jim Bolger's star filly made a quick winning reappearance in the Rockfel Stakes.
Her stable companion Creachadoir, winner of the Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh on Monday, also remains in the 2,000 Guineas at Longchamp where David Wachman has the option of running the Tipperary winner Followingfootsteps.
Sunday's home feature will be the Derrinstown Derby Trial which has a massive eight-strong entry from Ballydoyle among the 10 horses left in. Macarthur is the likely O'Brien standard-bearer where he is set to clash again with his Ballysax Stakes conqueror More Wells.
The ground at Leopardstown is currently "firm" but a decision on whether or not the track will be watered has been postponed to today due to a revised weather forecast.
Fran Berry is the early leader of the flat jockeys' championship but he will be anxious to get off the 13 winner-mark at Clonmel tonight on Rajnagan.
