RACING: The St James's Palace Stakes winner Azamour could be forced to miss out on York next week if the ground on the Knavesmire turns unsuitably soft.
Poor weather has played havoc with the going conditions in Britain and resulted in yesterday's scheduled card at nearby Beverley being called off.
That is bad news for the fast ground-loving Azamour, who is currently second favourite for Tuesday's Group One Juddmonte International which will be the colt's first attempt beyond a mile.
Trainer John Oxx has already been in touch with the course clerk at York and will contact him again today to see how the racing surface might pan out next week.
"The ground would have to be a concern," Oxx said. "I spoke to the clerk of the course who told me it was on the soft side of good there, but I will be in touch with him again for an update. It if turned soft we would have to discuss whether we would run."
"We don't think he likes it soft, even though he handled the ground in the Guineas at Newmarket quite well when it was on the slow side of good, probably what we would call yielding.
"We will have to wait and see but he wouldn't want it softer than that.
"It will depend on what the situation is on Sunday morning when there is 48 hour declaration. We could have to make one of those last-minute decisions," he added.
Azamour was one of 13 left in the International which included four from the Aidan O'Brien yard: Ace, Troubadour, Solskjaer and Tycoon.
The French colt Bago is a general 5 to 2 ante-post favourite, but, like Azamour, there is a question mark over the Prince Of Wales winner Rakti if the going gets too testing at York.
"If Azamour doesn't run, his next option will be the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown," Oxx said. "But having to go there without a prior run would not be ideal. It would mean a long interval since his last race."
The Curragh trainer's other York hope is Hazarista, who will probably take her chance in the Yorkshire Oaks despite the change in going.
"She likes it fast enough too, but we will probably let her take her chance. She is out of a Darshaan mare and might act on softer ground," he added.
The Ballydoyle camp, flushed from a successful day at the Curragh last weekend, have entered in bulk for York and nine horses from the O'Brien yard have been left in the Group Two Great Voltiguer.
They include the Juddmonte entry Tycoon, as well as the likes of Cobra and the Gallinule winner Meath, who hasn't run since finishing last in the Epsom Derby.
O'Brien dominated last year's Great Voltiguer, a traditional trial for the Doncaster St Leger, when Powerscourt edged out the subsequent Doncaster hero Brian Boru.
O'Brien also won three years ago with Milan.
A topweight of 12st is usually a negative against any horse in a handicap hurdle, but Portant Fella looks like one that can be backed with a measure of confidence at Tramore this evening.
Barry Geraghty is on board Joanna Morgan's horse, who followed up a decent run in the Galway Hurdle behind Cloone River with a victory in a mile handicap at Naas. In this sort of form Portant Fella looks one to keep on the right side of.
Sharp Act ran twice in July after a long break and the second of those looked okay when he made much of the running in Burren Moonshine's race at Galway.
The Hughes horse looks interesting in the opener and the 57-rated Caribelle could be the option in the mile and a half claimer.
Nina Carberry is an eye-catching booking for So Musical in the bumper after that horse's sixth to Drumavish Lass at Cork last month.
