RACING NEWS: A pacemaker ended Alamshar's unbeaten record at Leopardstown last month but the Epsom Derby joint favourite will have a pacemaker of his own when he reappears at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Alamshar puts his Classic credentials on the line in the Derrinstown Classic Trial and a total of 14 horses were left in the Group Two contest at yesterday's forfeit stage.
They include the Aga Khan pair of Alisar and Masandam as well as eight colts from the Aidan O'Brien yard.
Trainer John Oxx said yesterday: "We will probably run two in the race, Alamshar and one other just in case he is needed.
"Alamshar has generally sharpened up since the last day and has been going well. He is quite relaxed at home, no morning glory, but he is fine."
That "last day" in the Ballysax saw Alamshar just fail to overhaul Balestrini who had been running as a pacemaker for the disappointing Alberto Giacometti. That race was on fast ground but the going at Leopardstown yesterday was officially "yielding".
Oxx said: "The horse likes top of the ground and I suppose it would be no harm early in the year to find out just how much he might dislike any give in the ground. I'm certainly not worried at this early stage if it is unfavourable."
Aidan O'Brien's Classic aspiratons took a blow at Newmarket last weekend but he has a large team of possibles for the Derrinstown and will also be keeping a serious eye on Paris on Sunday.
The Ballydoyle trainer sent the ill-fated Landseer to win the French 2,000 Guineas at Longchamp last year and is likely to be represented again this time. Stable jockey Michael Kinane is again likely to travel to the continent as well.
"We won't decide until later in the week but Dalcassian, Catcher In The Rye and France are possibles for the French Guineas," O'Brien said yesterday.
"Brian Boru, Alberto Giacometti, Balestrini and Catcher In The Rye are all in the Prix Lupin on the same day, as well as the Derrinstown. They are all possibles and we will decide later where they will go. But I would say it is probable that Mick will go to France," he added.
Kinane has missed the last two editions of the Derrinstown because of the clash with the French Classics. Seamus Heffernan has stepped in successfully both times on Galileo and High Chaparral. The last three winners at Epsom have emerged from the Derrinstown and the bookmakers believe Alamshar will emulate the 2,000 victor Sinndar. Cashmans have opened a match bet with Alamshar at 1 to 2 against the 6 to 4 Brian Boru.
Just eight fillies have been left in the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown and Kevin Prendergast provides four of them including the impressive Athasi winner Walayef.
The Turf Club's Appeals and Referrals Committee yesterday upheld the disqualifications from first place of the recent "winners" Master Cooper and Moore's Law.
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