RACING/News and preview: A decision on whether or not One Cool Cat will take his chance in Saturday's Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup at Haydock will not be made until as late as possible.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained star is as low as 7 to 2 favourite for the six furlong Group One but the ground at Haydock is very testing and the best the track authorities are hoping for at the moment is that the going will be soft by the weekend.
O'Brien reported yesterday that he hopes One Cool Cat will take his chance but that no final call has been made.
"Everyone knows that the horse likes good ground and obviously we would like it to dry out," he said. "We will keep a close eye on the weather and we will leave a decision until as late as possible."
The declarations for the Group One have to be made tomorrow but although last time out One Cool Cat ran in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, finishing third to Bahamian Pirate, there was a doubt about his participation until just before the race.
The O'Brien team face a busy Group One weekend with Silk And Scarlet heading five Ballydoyle entries in Sunday's Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and Antonius Pius a possible starter in Longchamp's Prix du Moulin on the same day.
"Silk And Scarlet is an intended runner but they are all possible runners," said O'Brien, whose quintet contribute to a total entry of 22 in the Moyglare after yesterday's forfeit stage.
Significantly the Frances Crowley-trained Saoire, a short head winner at Leopardstown on her second start, has been supplemented into the Moyglare at a cost of €30,000.
A total of seven British-trained fillies remain in the seven furlong fillies championship including the Cherry Hinton winner Jewel In The Sand, who has an alternative engagement at Salisbury tomorrow in a Listed contest.
The ground at the Curragh is currently "good" and not much change is expected by Sunday.
"There is 10 millimetres of rain forecast for Wednesday and 3mms for Friday. If that forecast is correct I would expect the going to remain good," said the Curragh manager Paul Hensey.
There are two supporting Group Three races at the Curragh including the Nolan and Brophy Flying Five which has the Peter Makin-trained Stewards Cup winner Pivotal Point among the 14-strong entry. Osterhase and the Blenheim Stakes winner Ulfah are likely to head the home defence.
Russian Blue, who ran third to Divine Proportions in the Prix Morny, is among the 19 left in the Go and Go Round Tower Stakes.
Today's action is at Clonmel where the Dermot Weld can reel off a quick double in the first two races.
Monaser was expected to have broken his duck before now but even though he hasn't run since May he looks good for the 10 furlong maiden while Pharaoh Prince, who goes in the apprentice claimer, should prefer the forecast "good" going compared to his last race at Tipperary. Bold Jack Donohue took on pretty hot opposition at Gowran in February and looks to find the bumper opposition today much more comfortable.
