Racing News: Doyen might be favourite but the home team for Saturday's Baileys Champion Stakes is taking shape with Grey Swallow expected to lead the Irish defence.

The Leopardstown highlight is a rare Group One omission from Dermot Weld's career but Grey Swallow is pleasing the Curragh trainer ahead of a first clash with older horses.

"I'm satisfied with him and things are going to plan," Weld said yesterday, as Aidan O'Brien looked to commit Powerscourt to the Champion Stakes. "Powerscourt looks like our main contender at the moment and I would imagine if he runs, Jamie (Spencer) will ride," O'Brien said.

There is a clash with the Doncaster St Leger on Saturday in which O'Brien also hopes to have more than one runner.

"A lot will depend on the ground. Go For Gold and Tycoon like fast going and Two Miles West would like a little dig. We will have to see during the week," he said.

Brian Boru won the St Leger for Ballydoyle last year and that colt could be a contender for another Leger title in the Irish version on Saturday week.

The other Group One at Leopardstown on Saturday is the Coolmore Matron Stakes which could see Yesterday's first start of 2004.

"She is a possible, along with Baraka, while Necklace could run at Belmont Park the following night. Yesterday is ready for a start but she nearly died of colitis earlier in the year and we'll have to see if that has taken too much out of her," O'Brien said.

Spencer and O'Brien send the unbeaten Excalibur to Galway today for his first black-type start in the Ardilaun House Oyster Stakes.

One start at three and another at Tipperary two months ago was not the ideal start for the colt as he was High Chaparral's galloping companion last year and has performed the same function for Antonius Pius this term.

Based on his own merits, however, Excalibur looks progressive and holds some fancy entries in Australia for the Melbourne Cup and the Cox Plate.