O'Brien takes Alfred Noble out of Prix Morny

FAIRYHOUSE PREVIEW: TOMORROW'S PRIX Morny at Deauville will have just five runners after Aidan O'Brien's decision to skip the Group One event with his Phoenix Stakes winner Alfred Nobel who could be seen next in the National Stakes at the Curragh.

“We decided to give him a little more time as the ground down here has been pretty bad for the past couple of weeks and we haven’t been able to work him quite as much as we’d have liked,” O’Brien said yesterday.

In Alfred Nobel’s absence the current ante-post 2,000 Guineas favourite Canford Cliffs, trained by Richard Hannon, will attempt to build on his spectacular Coventry victory at Royal Ascot. His Morny opposition will include Brian Meehan’s July Stakes winner Arcano as well as the Prix Robert Papin winner Special Duty and Godolphin’s Zanzibari.

O’Brien’s Classic ambitions for 2010 won’t be closed down for the weekend, however, as Cape Blanco, currently a 20 to 1 joint-favourite for next year’s Derby, will attempt to maintain his unbeaten record in the Group Two Galileo Futurity at Fairyhouse today. A course and distance winner on his June debut, the son of Galileo was impressive against Marfach at Leopardstown subsequently and can also boast general 16 to 1 quotes for next year’s 2,000 Guineas. “The ground at Fairyhouse won’t be ideal but he needs to get more experience,” O’Brien said yesterday.

The most lucrative pot of the day though is the €300,000 Tattersalls Sale Stakes which features 16 horses bought at last September’s Yearling Sales across the road form the Fairyhouse track.

With €147,000 to the winner, and prize-money of €3,750 to the 10th, the competition will be intense although Canford Cliffs’ stable companion, Dick Turpin, will be a standout for many.

Richard Hughes’s mount is unbeaten in three and stepped up to land the Group Two Richmond Stakes at Goodwood last time. The Hannon camp believe soft ground won’t be a problem but it could very sticky indeed at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

In the circumstances then, there could be some more value in the chance of Andy Oliver's maiden In Some Respectwho gets 5lb from Dick Turpin and who boasts some very smart form behind Alfred Nobel.

Ghimaar can make the step up to black type company by landing the Listed Ballycullen Stakes while in Cork the Jessica Harrington-Robbie Power team may score with both No One Tells Meand Boragh Princess.