High Chaparral looks best

RACING: High Chaparral has just four opponents at Leopardstown tomorrow as he continues to follow the route to Epsom taken by Galileo and Sinndar.

Neither of those two top horses won the Ballysax anywhere near as impressively as High Chaparral did last month and it will be a major shock if the colt doesn't do something similar again in the Derrinstown Trial.

"He has been in good form since the last race but he hasn't done a lot since. The ground was good to firm the last day but the going doesn't seem to bother him," Aidan O'Brien said yesterday.

The handicap winner Solid Approach and Ahsanabad don't look in High Chaparral's class despite getting 7lb but an interesting contender is In Time's Eye.

Named after a former column in this newspaper, Dermot Weld's colt ran second to Sorcerous on his only start last season.

Both Weld and O'Brien will have their focus torn between Leopardstown and Longchamp where both French Guineas races will be run as well as the Prix Lupin. O'Brien runs Ballingarry in the latter contest, which features the top French hope Act One, and he said yesterday: "It looks a good race but at this stage, our's looks an eligible Derby horse."

O'Brien runs three in the 2,000 Guineas with Mick Kinane electing to ride Landseer in preference to Sahara Desert and Della Francesca.

Sophisticat and Pietra Dura fly the Ballydoyle flag in the 1,000 Guineas with Irish interest also centering on Kevin Prendergast's Wrong Key and the Weld-trained Rum Charger. "She is in great form since the Athasi on Monday and I expect her to run a very good race," said Weld who has booked Kieren Fallon for the ride.

Meanwhile, Aidan O'Brien indicated yesterday that Sorcerous could make his first start of the season in Wednesday's Dante Stakes at York. The colt, winner of his only start at Leopardstown last season, is a general 20 to 1 shot for the Epsom Derby.

"Sorcerous is a possible for the Dante. We have entered four for the race," said O'Brien.

The other Ballydoyle entries are Canberra, Roar Of The Tiger and Della Francesca.

Today's domestic action is at Fairyhouse who are able to forecast the word "firm" in their going outlook. Apart from that, there apparently isn't anything too eye-catching about the fare on offer but a combination of a light weight and the talented Mary Williamson could make Dear Catch worth a look in the sprint handicap.