Sport

Montjeu in limbo

A decision on Montjeu's participation in tomorrow's Esat Digifone Champion Stakes at Leopardstown has yet to be made

Fri Sept 10 1999 - 01:00

A decision on Montjeu's participation in tomorrow's Esat Digifone Champion Stakes at Leopardstown has yet to be made. The colt, winner of the French and Irish Derbys this season, was one of nine horses declared for the Group One contest yesterday with Michael Kinane booked to ride.

However, the Michael Tabor-owned three-year-old is still in the Prix Niel at Longchamp on Sunday and could potentially miss both races to run in the Prix du Prince d'Orange at the Paris course on September 18th.

A spokeswoman for John Hammond's Chantilly stable said yesterday: "We don't know where he runs yet. I think a decision will be made tomorrow morning."

Easy going is believed to suit the son of Sadler's Wells and the ground at Longchamp was reported to be riding soft (3.6 on the penetrometer scale) yesterday.

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The going at Leopardstown is currently good to yielding and racecourse manager Tom Burke said: "The ground should be perfect."

If Montjeu goes to post, a mouth-watering clash with Juddmonte International winner Royal Anthem and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes victor Daylami is in prospect. Jockey plans to be finalised for the IR£400,000 event included Eddie Ahern taking the mount on Sunshine Street with Seamus Heffernan getting the leg up on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Sunspangled.

Betting (Paddy Power): 5/4 Royal Anthem, 2 Daylami & Montjeu, 8 Dream Well, 50 Sunshine Street, 66 Lord Of Men, Make No Mistake, Dazzling Park, 100 Sunspangled. (Cashmans): 6/4 Royal Anthem, 2 Daylami, 9/4 Montjeu, 9 Dream Well, 33 Dazzling Park, 50 Make No Mistake, 66 Lord Of Men, 150 Sunspangled.

It's a much more mundane affair at Downpatrick this afternoon, but it can prove a profitable one for jockey Fran Berry and trainer Michael Halford.

They combine with Molly-O in the apprentice maiden and they also appear to have a real chance with Star Club, who also ran at the last Downpatrick fixture, in the apprentice handicap.

Country Flavour was only just beaten in a Wexford handicap hurdle before scoring in a Tramore bumper and should be up to taking the opening maiden hurdle while the course and distance winner Gravity Gate can repeat the dose in the opportunity handicap.