Godolphin runner is favourite

Mutafaweq is the 5 to 2 favourite with Paddy Power to become the first horse in 18 years to add the Jefferson Smurfit Irish St Leger to a victory in the English St Leger.

Touching Wood completed the double as a three-year-old for Tom Jones in 1982, but the Irish Leger is now a multi-generational classic and Mutafaweq will be searching for a first career win since beating Ramruma at Doncaster over a year ago.

A total of eight horses were declared yesterday, including three other English-based raiders, Arctic Owl, Little Rock and last year's runner-up Yavanna's Pace.

Arctic Owl is a 3 to 1 second favourite with Powers behind the Godolphin favourite, while John Oxx's Katiykha is the shortest priced of the Irish runners at 9 to 2.

Betting: 5/2 Mutafaweq, 3 Arctic Owl, 9/2 Katiykha, 6 Chimes At Midnight, 7 Little Rock, 8 Yavana's Pace, 16 Lermontov and Rostropovich

Today's Downpatrick fixture is a long way from such classic notions but it does present its own quandries, even before the first of the six races begins at 3.45.

The proposed truck drivers' blockade promises to play havoc with travel arrangements throughout the country and the main Belfast road is likely to be no exception. So much so that some trainers have already taken pre-emptive action.

"I know of one trainer who is travelling north on Thursday night and another who is travelling to Dundalk and staying overnight before coming here," the Downpatrick manager Ian Duff said yesterday.

He added: "I have been liaising with the Turf Club and the Trainers Association and at the moment the meeting goes ahead. It's too early to say anything definite because we won't really know the extent of it until the morning.

"But obviously what would upset thing is if half the horses aren't able to make it to the track. The obvious advice to everyone intending to come to Downpatrick is to leave early."

One man who will be more keen than most to make it through any blockade is Charlie Swan, who sends three horses north and all three hold serious chances.

Birth Rite was an easy bumper winner at Ludlow last winter and has the size and scope to make a decent jumper. The opener is a pretty decent maiden hurdle, with the course bumper winner, Indiana Journey, and the useful Christy Senior present. but Birth Rite was a decent second to Discerning Air at Ballinrobe and is preferred.

Swan saddles Micky Mackelhatton in the bumper and that one can also score for the Cloughjordan trainer; but his Sharavogue Cookie could find Amplified too good in the apprentice maiden.