BLACK BEAR Island is rated one of Aidan O’Brien’s prime Derby contenders for 2009 and the colt could kick off his three-year-old campaign in France on Sunday.
The full-brother to the dual-Derby and double-Breeders’ Cup winner High Chaparral is one of seven entries currently remaining in the Group Three Prix la Force at Longchamp.
Drumbeat is another Ballydoyle entry for the mile-and-a-quarter race but most focus may end up centring on Black Bear Island who is a general 14 to 1 fourth favourite for Epsom after an impressive piece of work at the Curragh 18 days ago.
“He is a possible runner but we don’t have to decide for definite until Friday morning,” O’Brien said yesterday.
“The ground is reading 3.2 there at the moment which is good and that would be fine,” added O’Brien.
There are a couple of Guineas trials at Longchamp on Sunday as well and O’Brien has three entries in the Group Three Prix de la Fontainebleau, including the Champagne Stakes winner and Breeders’ Cup runner-up Westphalia.
Set Sail and Viceroy Of India are also “possibles” for a race that their trainer has used before to warm up both Landseer and Aussies Rules before they won the French 2,000 Guineas in May.
Tipperary hosts an all-flat card this evening where Three Rocks will be short odds to complete a quick hat-trick in the Captain Marvelous Race over seven furlongs and 100 yards.
The Jim Bolger-trained horse has risen rapidly in the ratings this season, winning off 87 at the Curragh before following up off 98 at Leopardstown when he again overcame a slow start to win comfortably.
Three Rocks is now on 108 which gives him the clear winning of this as he continues his rise through the ranks.
The winning streak enjoyed by the Bolger team in general has been a feature of the season so far and Buiochas Mor, runner-up to Zaralanta at the Curragh, can also score in the Ballyhane Stud Fillies Maiden (7f 100yds) while Hello Bunclody could be worth checking in the Tipperary Racecourse Supporting Irish Breeders Handicap (7f 100yds).
Suailce was a high-profile winner in the Presidential colours in last season’s Irish Cesarewitch, a performance that makes her the one to beat in the mile-and-six Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association Race conditions race.
Clodova proved herself on soft conditions on her sole start at the Curragh in 2008 and can get the better of Mark Of An Angel in the opener.
