Omens not good for Powerscourt

RacingA year after Powerscourt had Arlington Million glory taken away from him by the stewards, the Aidan O'Brien-trained horse tonight tries again to become the first Irish winner of Chicago's biggest race (off 10.35pm).

Famously, Powerscourt was thrown out of first place and placed fourth after a controversial Jamie Spencer ride 12 months ago. But this time it will be Kieren Fallon who tries to plot a course to beat a strong field that includes America's top turf horse, Kitten's Joy. O'Brien and Fallon will also be in Grade One action in both the Secretariat Stakes (off 11.53pm) and the Beverly D Stakes (off 9.37pm) on Grand Central and Mona Lisa respectively. But it's that unfinished business with the Million that will be the priority.

The omens don't look encouraging, though. Powerscourt's three starts this season haven't come near the overall form he showed last year and a stall nine of 10 start position is not ideal considering 19 of the 22 previous Million winners have started from stall seven or less. Significantly, though, half of that winners list has started favourite and the average can be kept up with an in-form Kitten's Joy likely to use this as a prelude to a tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Timarida in 1996 is the only previous Irish winner of the $750,000 Beverly D and Mona Lisa has a big task against the American Oaks runner-up Melhor Ainda, while Dermot Weld's Merger will join Grand Central in flying the Irish flag in the Secretariat.

Live coverage of the Arlington meeting will be shown on the attheraces channel.

This evening's home action is at Tramore where Son Of Mary is likely to take up the option of the mile and a half auction race rather than an alternative entry in tomorrow's Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.

Another horse to look out for should be Family Affair who is rated to cope with Jakeups Fold in the Beginners Chase.