News: The ante-post favourite Hurricane Run is set to miss the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes and instead Kieren Fallon will be on board Dylan Thomas in Saturday's Group One feature at Leopardstown.
Although final declarations for the big race are not until later this morning, the name of Hurricane Run is not expected to be among the field of runners after ground conditions appeared to turn against the French-trained superstar yesterday.
Hurricane Run's trainer Andre Fabre has been at pains in the last week to stress the need for an ease in the ground if the world's highest-rated racehorse was to make the third appearance of his career in Ireland.
However, such conditions are now unlikely to materialise and Fallon is now set to switch to his Irish Derby winning mount, Dylan Thomas.
"Currently we are just on the easy side of good but if the weather forecast is correct, we will have no rain up to and including Saturday. On that basis, you would think the ground would be on the fast side of good which would probably not be in Hurricane Run's favour," said Leopardstown's manager Tom Burke yesterday.
Hurricane Run has an alternative engagement in Sunday's Prix Foy at Longchamp where he will probably run against his stable companion Shirocco in the traditional Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe trial.
That leaves the way open for Coolmore Stud's other main player, Dylan Thomas, to try and secure a fourth success in the Champion Stakes for his trainer Aidan O'Brien, who will also be represented in the big race by Ace.
Michael Kinane, the most successful rider in Champion Stakes history with six victories, is expected to be on board the Ballydoyle second string with Aussie Rules missing out.
In other news yesterday, Aidan O'Brien outlined some jockey news for the powerful team he plan to run in Saturday's Ladbrokes St Leger at York.
"Seamus Heffernan will ride Tusculum in the Leger and Kevin Darley and Colm O'Donoghue will ride either Mountain or Fire And Rain. I'm not sure which yet," O'Brien said.
"Puerto Rico was a little sore after his work yesterday and although we won't decide until the morning, there must be a doubt about him running."
The improved ground conditions at Leopardstown was bad news for the Hurricane Run camp but it was a different story for Ed Dunlop and Jamie Spencer ahead of Ouija Board's first race in Ireland since landing the 2004 Oaks at the Curragh.
Ouija Board is also an entry in Sunday's Prix Vermeille but Dunlop said: "The Champion is our main plan but the ground will be a factor so she'll be left in the Vermille. She had a hard race in the Nassau but she's blessed with the most amazing constitution."
An already strong British challenge for the Matron received another boost yesterday when the Rae Guest-trained Bahia Breeze was committed to the Group One race instead of the Strensall Stakes at York.
"We're probably going to Leopardstown. It's a race for fillies and mares only and hopefully Alexander Goldrun will run in the other ace," said Guest yesterday.
"On ratings she is as good as anybody in the field. She's run some good races, and is tough, so she will take her chance. Fran Berry rides and he's a local jockey who knows the track well."
Bahia Breeze will join the cross-channel team that already includes Flashy Wings, Short Dance and Red Evie with the Cheveley Park Stud owned pair of Nannina and Echelon also strong contenders to travel.
One British-trained horse who will not be travelling to Leopardstown over the weekend is Blue Monday who trainer Roger Charlton indicated yesterday will not take his place in the Group Three Bruce Betting Kilternan Stakes.
