Leopardstown:Macarthur, second favourite for the Epsom Derby with most bookmakers, makes his seasonal reappearance in the Group Three PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown tomorrow.
Aidan O'Brien's charge, who has been well supported in recent weeks for the Epsom Classic, will be joined in the line-up by stablemates Anton Chekov and The Ethiopian.
Jim Bolger's Creachadoir, winner of the 2,000 Guineas Trial over a mile at Leopardstown, also takes his chance.
The in-form Kevin Prendergast relies on Mores Wells, a promising winner of a maiden two weeks ago, while Frank Ennis runs Ferneley, third in the Futurity Stakes behind Teofilo as a juvenile.
John Oxx has pitched the filly Hasanka in against the colts after she won a Cork maiden by a length on her only start as a two-year-old.
Mister Castlefield and Summit Surge complete the nine-runner field. Mores Wells was successful over this course and distance when accounting for Vincenzio Galilei by a neck two weeks ago.
"He's working well and is in good shape," said Prendergast.
"He won his second start there. He ran once as a two-year-old and he's won around the track. He doesn't mind the ground so we're looking forward to running him on Sunday."
Hasanka is taking on the colts due to the lack of suitable races for three-year-old fillies at this stage of the season.
Oxx said: "There's a shortage of races for a filly like her at this time of the year. We've no option but to take on the colts as we want to run her over a little bit of distance. The Ballysax is a tough race. Traditionally in recent years it's been fought out by very good horses and it's a tough assignment for her.
"I'd have preferred something a little gentler, but she's ready to run. I think she'll run a good race, but it's a tough starting point."
The Currabeg trainer admitted the Aga Khan's filly had been a little slow coming to hand this spring.
"We had a good winter with her and she's a nice filly, but she's been a little slow to come to hand this spring," he went on.
"She's looking well now and has done a reasonable amount of work. We haven't been too hard on her because she's been a bit slow to thrive.
"We're well into April now and we'd like to get her on the track and I think she's done enough to appear. We are hoping for a nice run, but hopefully she'll improve now over the next couple of months."
n Ruby Walsh's commuting between Ireland and Britain this season has reaped rich rewards and he moved to the top of the jockeys' prize-money list for the campaign as he completed a double on Otto Des Pictons and Petit Lord at Ayr yesterday.
His win and place earnings in Britain now total nearly £2.3 million, with Paul Nicholls having provided him with 66 of his 71 successes in Britain.
