Leopardstown Preview: Michael Kinane relies on Ace to improve on his remarkable tally of six Champion Stakes victories but the legendary jockey's best shout at Group One glory today looks to be Flashy Wings in the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.
More than half of the nine- strong field travel from Britain, including the Coronation winner Nannina, which leaves the home team with quite a task.
Of the local fillies, the Ballydoyle runner, Race For The Stars, looks the most likely to step up to the top-flight plate but it's still hard to escape from the strength in depth among the visitors.
Nannina is joined by another Cheveley Park Stud-owned runner in Peeress but the prospect of decent ground looks to leave John Gosden's Royal Ascot heroine with the edge.
That Coronation Stakes performance is one of the best pieces of form in the race but the reality is that Nannina has been beaten twice since and is stepping back from the mile and a quarter of the Nassau last month.
There is also the fact that Jimmy Fortune managed to secure a dream run at Ascot and in the circumstances, Flashy Wings chances of over-turning the two-length deficit from the Coronation look to be decent enough.
Mick Channon hasn't run his star filly since but she looks to have got her preferred surface and she definitely has the services of a rider who could pick his away around Leopardstown blindfolded.
Kinane is also on the very interesting juvenile Angelonmyshoulder in the seven-furlong maiden and if this colt has matured from his course and distance debut, when he was very colty in the parade ring, he can start to justify his big home reputation.
The other Group race action today will come in the Bruce Betting Kilternan Stakes and despite the presence of runners from the O'Brien, Weld and Bolger stables, it could be an ideal opportunity for Peter Casey's Cool Touch to graduate from handicap company.
Cool Touch's progress through the ranks has been eye-catching this season and despite jockey Oliver Casey being unable to use claim, that climb can stretch to five wins in a row.
Kieren Fallon can get the day off to a good start on Catherine Linton, a daughter of the double-Oaks winner Ramruma, who should improve significantly from her Tralee debut behind Nell Gwyn.
