Orpen goes French

Orpen will return to the course and distance of his greatest triumph to try and rekindle his season in Sunday's Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.

With Michael Kinane riding Fasliyev in Leopardstown's Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes, Olivier Peslier will take the ride on the colt who won the Prix Morny last year over the six-and-a-half furlong trip.

Since then, Orpen's best effort has been his third to Saffron Walden, ridden by Peslier, in the Irish 2,000 Guineas but afterwards he failed to make an impact behind Sendawar in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Orpen's trainer Aidan O'Brien confirmed yesterday that he expects to run at least two other horses besides Fasliyev in the Heinz. "I'm not sure yet which they will be but Giants Causeway remains more likely for the Acomb Stakes at York," he said. After Wednesday night's heavy rain, the ground at Leopardstown's sprint track has changed from good to firm to good to yielding with the round course riding yielding. The weather forecast is better, however, for the weekend.

Make No Mistake, meanwhile, will bid to become the first since Alleged 21 years ago to win twice in a row in the Group Two Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh in eight days' time. A likely opponent for Dermot Weld's Cox Plate hopeful will be the John Oxx-trained Strategic, an impressive winner of his belated seasonal debut a fortnight ago.

This evening's action at Kilbeggan features a £10,000 jackpot guarantee which, considering the crowds the Co Westmeath track attracts, should not come into play.

With 102 runners over the seven races, the fare is typically competitive and the stamina test of the three-mile handicap chase could make all the difference to the Frank Berry-trained An Tain Shioc.

This one could not quite get in a telling blow over a shorter trip here behind Antartic Wind but still stayed on for fourth and the ease in the ground can help An Tain Shioc get the better of Blasket Sound.

Shay Barry will travel with realistic chances of hitting the mark more than once. Mind you, the only thing he hit the last time he rode Nippy Cherry was the ground when Harry Rogers's horse fell at the third over the course and distance behind Fernhillbogey. Nippy Cherry goes in the Beginners Chase tonight and his hurdle win here gives him a good chance. Barry can also take the opener on Jessica Harrington's Happen To Make It.