Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin team has paid £24,000 to supplement Happy Valentine into Saturday's Esat-Digifone Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. The former ante-post favourite for the 1997 Epsom Derby will act as a pacemaker to his stable companion Swain, and the former champion apprentice in Ireland, Darragh O'Donohoe, will ride.
Fourteen horses remain in the race after yesterday's forfeit stage, but the John Dunlop trio of Haami, Taipan and Rabah will not take part.
The Sir Mark Prescott-trained filly Alborada, winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes on her last Irish visit, is a likely runner with George Duffield set to ride.
But Dermot Weld reported yesterday that Make No Mistake will miss the race if the ground turns soft. "He worked well this morning, is in great order and we will decide on Friday morning if he runs," he said.
Should Make No Mistake not run, Michael Kinane would be free, possibly to ride Aidan O'Brien's Oaks winner Shahtoush.
Bookmakers are united in making Swain favourite for Saturday's big race, but while Cashmans make him 5 to 2, Paddy Power are as low as 6 to 4. Powers make One So Wonderful their 100 to 30 second favourite with Xaar on 9 to 2.
BETTING: (Paddy Power) - 6/4 Swain, 100/ 30 One So Wonderful, 9/2 Xaar, 11/2 Shahtoush, 8/1 Alborada, 12/1 Tarascon, 16/1 Sasuru, 20/1 Happy Valentine, 25/1 bar. (Liam Cashman) - 5/2 Swain, 4/1 One So Wonderful and Xaar, 8/1 Alborada, 12/1 Shahtoush and Mutamam, 16/1 Make No Mistake, 20/1 Sasuru, 25/1 bar.
Meanwhile, John Murtagh has been released from his commitments for John Oxx at Leopardstown on Saturday and will team up with Sunshine Street in Saturday's Doncaster St Leger.
Sunshine Street's trainer Noel Meade said yesterday: "Originally Johnny was going to Leopardstown and we booked Richard Hughes, but Johnny rang me this morning to say that John Oxx had kindly allowed him to ride at Doncaster."
Murtagh will be in action at the Yorkshire track before that, as he will team up with Oxx's Beldarian in today's Park Hill Stakes and tomorrow he is set to ride the two-year-old Sarenara in the mile May Hill Stakes.
Sadian has attracted the money in the ante-post market for Saturday's St Leger at Doncaster. William Hill have cut John Dunlop's charge, supplemented on Saturday at a cost of £20,000, to 5 to 1 from 13 to 2 and Ladbrokes also report money for Sadian and have shortened his price to 5 to 1 from 7 to 1. The rank outsider Ardleigh Charmer (now 150 to 1 from 250 to 1) has also been supported is now 150 to 1 from 250 to 1.
The dual Irish St Leger winner Oscar Schindler has been retired. The Kevin Prendergasttrained horse did not appear this season. Besides the two St Legers he also won the Hardwicke Stakes and the Ormonde Stakes.
Galway Inspection
Following persistent heavy rain at Galway the stewards will hold an inspection at 7.00 a.m. this morning to determine whether today's meeting can go ahead.
