Mourayan is worth a bet

PREVIEWS LEOPARDSTOWN AND FRENCH CLASSICS: MOURAYAN LOOKED an unlucky loser when finishing third behind Fame And Glory at Leopardstown last month but can set the record straight in tomorrow's Group Two Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown.

A strict formbook interpretation keeps Fame And Glory in front of Mourayan and Fergus McIver from that Ballysax Stakes as he now only has to concede 3lb instead of 5lb and is expected to improve for that first run of the season.

The unbeaten Aidan O'Brien-trained colt is as low as 7 to 1 for the Epsom Derby and will attempt to follow in the Group One footsteps of previous Ballydoyle winners of this race such as Dylan Thomas (2006), High Chaparral (2002) and Galileo (2001).

Seamus Heffernan was on board all three of those horses on Derrinstown day and with Johnny Murtagh on duty in France he is on Fame And Glory this time.

However, circumstances have altered somewhat since the Ballysax and the formbook can't take into account the impression that John Oxx's three-year-old team could yet prove themselves the number-one collection anywhere in Europe in 2009.

Sea The Stars looked outstanding in the 2,000 Guineas and Arazan is shaping up like being one of the man contenders for the Irish equivalent in a fortnight's time. Mourayan may not be quite in that class but significantly both Oxx and Mick Kinane appear keen to give the colt another chance to earn his place in the Epsom Derby.

Mourayan was denied a run at a vital stage of the Ballysax, just before the turn in. He ran on noticeably well though and with the stable in such form the Aga Khan-owned horse looks worth another shout.

Oxx and O'Brien are also represented in the 1,000 Guineas Trial over a mile but that distance could be crucial for the chances of Tommy Stack's Smart Coco.

She was out-kicked over seven furlongs here last month by both Maoineach and Heart Shaped and shaped like a filly who would relish a longer distance.

Red Rock Canyon gets the chance for some individual glory in the Group Three Amethyst Stakes having spent much of the last two years cutting out the pace for some of his more illustrious stable companions.

His own rating makes him a factor tomorrow but this could be a good opportunity for Three Rocks provided he doesn't blow his chance again with a slow start.

The feature at Killarney is the €50,000 handicap hurdle which could see Jimmy Mangan's mare Alpine Glade with a good chance on the back of a career best performance behind Shirley Casper at Fairyhouse over Easter.