Racing News and Tipperary preview: Jamie Spencer is fighting to be available to ride Vintage Tipple in Sunday's Darley Irish Oaks.

The young jockey has been confirmed as the intended partner for the filly by the Paddy Mullins team as long as he is not claimed to ride in Britain on the same day.

"We are waiting to see how Jamie is fixed on Sunday but he is the intended rider and we haven't thought of anyone else," said the trainer's son Tom Mullins yesterday.

"Vintage Tipple worked this morning and did it well. We're very pleased with her," he added.

Vintage Tipple has already been described by the veteran trainer Paddy Mullins as the best flat racehorse he has had since the Champion Stakes winner Hurry Harriet in the early 1970's.

Spencer rode Vintage Tipple when she was beaten on her only start this season, behind Walayef in the Athasi Stakes in late April.

The Mullins filly remains next best of the home defence in the ante-post betting as the Aidan O'Brien trained favourite, Yesterday, hardened to 6 to 4.

Although one bookmaker spokesman described trading as "quiet enough", the favourite was clipped from 2 to 1 with Cashmans who also lengthened the Michael Stoute trained Ribblesdale winner Spanish Sun to 7 to 2.

A final decision on whether or not the Ribblesdale runner-up Ocean Silk runs in the Oaks will be taken this morning. Her owner Robert Sangster won the classic with Godetia in 1979. Ocean Silk's stable companion High Praise is also a possible starter.

John Murtagh has won half of the last six renewals of the Oaks with Ebadiyla (1997), Winona (1998) and Petrushka (2000), but this time will be on the John Oxx trained outsider Juliette.

Dermot Weld is considering starting the Italian Oaks also-ran Miss Nashwan while Kevin Prendergast may depend on Jakarta Jade.

The going at the Curragh yesterday was officially "yielding" after some heavy rain, but manager Paul Hensey is confident conditions will improve.

Frankie Dettori has been booked for the Mark Johnston trained Leicester Square in Sunday's Anglesey Stakes for which Steel Light and the Aidan O'Brien trained York winner One Cool Cat remain likely starters.

Darryl Holland has been booked for the ride on Suggestive in the Emirates Minstrel Stakes and said yesterday: "I would be happy to pick up more rides at the Curragh and it would be great if I could pick something up in the Oaks."

Other cross-channel contenders for the Minstrel will be Mick Channon's Millenium Force and With Reason from the David Loder yard.

Before all that, Tipperary hosts an eight-race mixed card this evening where John Magnier will have an interest on the flat and over jumps.

Masteroffoxhounds, who carries the famous Magnier colours, has a first start over fences in the Beginners Chase and an adequate round of jumping should be enough to see him home.

Winner of a flat race at Leopardstown last month, Masteroffoxhounds also has two Cork bumper victories and a maiden hurdle to his name but has looked a chaser in the making.

Born In America looks up to improving for a weekend debut in the opener but the Ballydoyle colt in the seven furlong maiden, Fantasticat, looks like having to give best to Danticat.

Danticat is a son of Storm Cat's son Tale Of The Cat and was a 25 to 1 stable second string when third at Leopardstown on Saturday evening.

The two mile trip and quick ground should be ideal for Goss in the conditions chase.