Giant's Causeway may be the current focus of attention, but Aidan O'Brien is already planning for next year with his brother, Hemingway, who will put his unbeaten record on the line in Saturday's Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamp.
O'Brien also reported yesterday that the highly regarded Darwin, a seven-length winner of his only start in May, is set to be the Ballydoyle flag-bearer in Sunday's Aga Khan Studs National Stakes at the Curragh.
"We've got a lot of entries in both races but Hemingway is our probable runner in the Salamandre. Darwin has had a little break, as we planned, since his first race, but is a very possible runner in the National Stakes," said O'Brien.
The Salamandre was the Group One contest won by Giant's Causeway last year and his brother, Hemingway, will travel to France also with two races behind him, in his case at Galway and York. In 1998 O'Brien ran Stravinsky in the seven-furlong race behind the winner Aljabr
The division of the mile and a half apprentice handicap means an eight-race marathon at Roscommon today, but punters with the necessary stamina to last out until the bumper should be rewarded by a victory for Walnut Creek.
The Charlie Swan-trained runner was fancied to score at Cork recently but ultimately wound up the runner-up to Get It On. There are a number of decent horses ranged against Walnut Creek this time, including Ardlea, who was placed at Naas, but the Swan runner looks a good bet to continue his trainer's sparkling run of form.
Another attractive-looking proposition is Kevin Prendergast's America Calling in the fillies maiden. For the first time in her three starts to date, America Calling doesn't have an Aidan O'Brien-trained colt to deal with, but the balance of her form behind Bonnard, Beckett and Joplin looks to give her a sound chance here.
John Oxx is always a force to be reckoned with around this track and in the mile and a half maiden he gives Khairambar just the second start of a restricted season. However, the first start, at Leopardstown in June, has been well boosted by the subsequent Group race performances of Dutch Harrier and Quality Team, so the Persian Bold horse looks set to defy the lack of recent activity.
Back To Bavaria won well at Downpatrick and this tough individual could follow up in the first division of the apprentice race; while Feelin' Looser, runner-up in that Downpatrick race, will carry more than a few hopes in the second division.
