Michael Kinane can warm up for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the best possible style by taking today's featured Group Three Park Stakes at the Curragh on Screen Idol. Dermot Weld is trying to win this race, which remembers his late father Charlie, for the fifth time and it's significant that he allows Screen Idol, who he admits to holding in high regard, to represent him.
Weld made no attempt to disguise that regard after Screen Idol justified some hefty bets at the Galway festival, beating Via Splendida by a couple of lengths. The bare form may not add up to much but talk of next year's classics abounded after it and Screen Idol will, at the very least, have to go close today to justify that hype.
A couple of fillies who ran in the Moyglare, Shahtoush who finished third in it and Winona, who was a big disappointment in only 10th could present the biggest challenge with the latter sure to do better this time but Screen Idol is preferred.
The aforementioned Absolute Glee takes her chance in the Listed Mitsubishi Diamond Stakes but John Oxx's likely favourite Darrouzett is still an improving filly, something to very much keep on the right side of at this time of year.
King Of Cloyne is preferred in the other black type contest, the Blenheim Stakes over six furlongs. Jim Bolger's colt ran a nice fourth to Impressionist in the Futurity over seven last time but has plenty of speed and should be suited by the drop back in trip. The fivefurlong speedster Hopping Higgins looks the obvious danger but the Curragh six may be too stiff for her.
The big betting race of the day should be the Cesarewitch. The top weight, Theatreworld, has been in such sparkling form on the flat that his intended novice chase career has been continually postponed and he should go close again today. His stablemate Antapoura also looks dangerous as does the impressive Listowel winner Time For A Run but slight preference is for Space Trucker, whose ability to accelerate in the closing stages could be decisive.
The biggest field of the day is reserved for the Derrinstown Apprentice Race and working on the old premise that the bigger the field the bigger the certainty, Bailiwick Frontier is napped.
The six-year-old is no certainty but this size field should see Ger Moylan being able to cover him up until the last possible second and then kick. The seven furlongs over which Bailiwick Frontier ran last time didn't allow that kick to be effective but this mile should.
Dermot Weld could also be on the double at Down Royal where David Evans has the responsibility of guiding Skipo through the Beginners Chase and Paul Hourigan rides Western Chief in the Childline Race.
Western Chief hit the headlines the last time he visited a racecourse when just short headed in the novelty match race at Leopardstown which resulted in Michael Kinane visiting the Turf Club. At his best he's a decent enough handicapper and today's contest looks to be his level.
Skipo is a similarly competent performer on the flat and over hurdles and while he can be somewhat inconsistent, at his best he may have too much boot for Lord Esker and Jack Yeats.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has banned French jockey Eric Saint Martin until the New Year after two reckless riding offences in a week. The ban, believed to be the longest ever imposed in Hong Kong, leaves the career of the son of former French champion Yves hanging in the balance.
Saint Martin, who won the 1993 Ard de Triomphe on Urban Sea, was banned for nine racing days last Saturday after he was blamed for a fall that left another jockey in hospital.
He was then suspended for a further 14 days for his actions in a roughly-run third race on a special National Day meeting at Happy Valley on Thursday.
