Testing ground will not bother Arazan

ARAZAN COULD have to face the might of Aidan O'Brien's two-year-old squad in Sunday's Bank Of Scotland National Stakes at the Curragh but John Oxx's Classic prospect will have at least one important weapon in his armoury.

As bad weather continues to decimate Ireland's racing programme this week, the prospect of testing conditions will hold no terrors for the Aga Khan's unbeaten colt who landed the Futurity at the Curragh last month by four lengths on heavy ground.

That Group Two race was the launch pad for both New Approach and Teofilo winning the National Stakes in the last two seasons and Hawk Wing also completed the double seven years ago.

Jim Bolger has left both Gan Amhras and Intense Focus in Sunday's Group One feature but it is Aidan O'Brien who dominates the 20-strong entry with a massive 13 possibles left in after yesterday's forfeit stage.

They include the first two in the betting for next year's 2,000 Guineas, Mastercraftsman and Rip Van Winkle, as well as less exposed types such as Hail Caesar and Masterofthehorse.

O'Brien has already nominated the Phoenix Stakes winner Mastercraftsman as a possible runner but his major success came on fast ground and conditions will be very different on Sunday.

"The forecast is supposed to be better from Thursday on but you never know. If we get heavy rain on Friday the meeting might even be off," said Oxx who trains on the Curragh.

"The would be the big worry rather than racing on heavy ground. We were very pleased with the way Arazan handled it the last day. He appears to be comfortable on cut so that isn't so much of a concern. If the meeting is on the ground won't be an excuse for our horse," he added.

The half-brother to Azamour also holds a prominent position in ante-post betting for next year's Guineas and Oxx believes this weekend may turn out to be a major test of his Classic credentials.

"We will have to see how he measures up. This will be a big test for him," he said. "He has other entries after Sunday but that would be three starts for him this season which would be quite adequate for him really."

The going at the Curragh is currently soft but the unsettled weather has already claimed the final two days of Galway's September festival as well as tomorrow's scheduled card at Tipperary.

There are also concerns for Cork's card on Friday as the sprint races have already been cancelled and current plans are for races on the round course to be divided in order to make a six race fixture. However, the round track is currently also waterlogged in places.

Jockey Wayne Lordan faces an anxious morning as his appeal against a three-day ban will be heard at the Turf Club today. His chances of riding Tommy Stack's filly, Unsung Heroine, in Saturday's English St Leger depend on the outcome. Lordan lost out on riding the Moyglare winner Again 11 days ago due to a ban.

Sunday's main support race at the Curragh will be the Group Three Solonaway Stakes which has attracted 16 entries. They include David Elsworth's Stubbs Art who was placed in both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas this year as well as the French Derby runner-up Famous Name.

Duff is also among the 16, but his trainer Eddie Lynam favours a tilt at Saturday's Park Stakes at Doncaster.

"I understand it is good to soft over there and is 50-50 to run at Doncaster if they don't get much more rain," he said.