Causeway set for Sussex Stakes

Aidan O'Brien has confirmed Giants Causeway is on target for next week's Sussex Stakes, and he outlined plans for the rest of the extensive team he expects to send to the big Goodwood festival.

One horse who could be diverted to France, however, is the Marble Hill Stakes winner Pyrus, who may try to emulate Rossini's effort last year and pick up the Group Two Prix Robert Papin at Maissons Laffitte.

"Pyrus is in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood but the Papin looks like it might work into his schedule better," said O'Brien of the Mr Prospector colt, who won on his only start, at the Curragh.

If Pyrus does go to France, that will leave Pirate Of Penzance to fly the Ballydoyle two-year-old flag in the Champagne Stakes, along with the filly Dietrich, who is a possible for the Molecomb Stakes.

"We didn't want to make the running at the Curragh last time (behind Pan Jammer in the Anglesey Stakes) but we had to," said O'Brien. "Pirate Of Penzance will be much happier with a lead.

"I was very happy with Dietrich at Tipperary and the way she settled indicated six furlongs shouldn't be a problem. If she misses Goodwood, she'll run in the Lowther at York."

Distance certainly doesn't seem to be an issue for Giants Causeway, who will revert to a mile from the 10 furlongs of his gallant victory in the Eclipse at Sandown. But O'Brien indicated the Storm Cat colt is likely to have a pacemaker for him in the Sussex.

Ballinrobe stages an eight-race card this evening and Princess Button is selected to get punters off to a good start in this marathon by taking the opening auction maiden.

The Ger Lyons-trained filly ran an eye-catching debut third behind Kings Country at Leopardstown, and on the strength of that started a warm favourite over seven furlongs at Down Royal, only to be run out of it by Sweet Dilemma.

Princess Button reverts to six furlongs today, however, and looks well up to winning a race of this nature. Travatore looks the danger.

Travatore's trainer, Declan Gillespie, and Lyons also look set to saddle the principals in the claiming race, but this time Gillespie can win with the consistent grey Crown Point, who has to concede to Zuleika in the ratings but should be better suited by the sprint trip.

John Murtagh can be the common winning denominator in the other two flat races. A rating of 91 gives the Aga Khan's Bayadira the clear winning of the nine furlong maiden, although, being a daughter of College Chapel, who only raced on an ease in her three starts last year, there may be a slight doubt about the ground.

Murtagh is also just given the nod in the following race on Not A Sound for John Muldoon, while Ruby Walsh's mount Indalo can send punters home happy by taking the maiden hurdle ahead of Derravarra Sunset.