Prendergast bids for fourth win

THIRTEEN horses have been left in Sunday's Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes at Leopardstown, including Verglas, so impressive when taking the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the Prix Robert Papin winner, Ocean Ridge.

Verglas, who first advertised his ability when bolting in by eight lengths over the course and distance in May, looks by far the pick of the home team. The Highest Honor colt has not been fully extended in any of his races so far and will be well supported to give Kevin Prendergast his fourth success in this race.

The trainer's Curragh stable was successful with Aerola and Sweet Emma when this was still a five furlong event and with Bradawn Breever in 1991 when the Group One contest made its permanent move to Leopardstown.

Peter Chapple Hyam, successful with Turtle Island in 1993 can choose between Ocean Ridge and Carmine Lake. The latter held off the late challenge of Connemara in the Molecomb Stakes over five furlongs at Goodwood on Friday but although no definite decision will be made until today, a stable spokeswoman said yesterday that Ocean Ridge was the more likely runner.

Ocean Ridge, having finished a creditable second to the talented Dazzle in the Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket, outclassed her field in the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons Laffitte afterwards.

Dermot Weld has accepted with the Sadler's Wells filly, Star Profile, who won with considerable ease on her debut at the Curragh. That was only a maiden, of course, but she is well regarded by her trainer.

The acceptors are Bahamian Bounty, Check The Band, Hyde Park, Mantovani, Muchea, Raphane, Verglas, Azra, Carmine Lake, Melleray, Ocean Ridge, Scottish Mist, Star Profile.

Of the 11 horses left in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes no fewer, than seven are British trained," but home trained runners have a fine record in this event, winning, three of the last four starts.

Aidan O'Brien has declared both Catch The Blues and Sunset Reigns. Catch the Blues, a last finishing second to Atraf in the Cork and Orrery Stakes at Royal Ascot, has since won the Rockingham Stakes at the Curragh and if he is the stable's runner, is the one they will all have to beat.

Acceptors Venture Capitalist, Leap For Joy, Iktamal, Woodborough, Catch The Blues, Daring Dest in Peruke, Deed Of Love, Blue Iris, Farhana, Sunset Reigns.

Overall betting at last weeks Galway festival reached £8.8 million which was 11.6 per cent higher than in the previous year. Bookmaker turnover, which included for the first time betting on away meetings and the turnover from the SP shop, amounted to £6.3 million, up 18 per cent on 1995.

Galway Hurdle day on the Thursday attracted the most betting, with a combined total of £1.9 million.