A FEATURE of the flat season so far has been the success of home trained horses in Irish Group races and that trend can continue, despite a strong British challenge, in this evening's Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown.

Of the eight Group races run in this country so far only the first one, the Gladness Stakes, has been picked up by a foreign raider. Cool Edge was that non-conformist and he returns with Wizard King to try and take this Group Three event. However, Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle empire can fend them off with the fast improving Crown Regent.

The re-emergence of Ballydoyle, which has claimed four of those eight Group pots, has had a lot to do with the resurgence in Irish fortunes and such has been their success that Crown Regent's step up in class doesn't look beyond him.

The Fairy King colt followed up his opening success of the year at Tipperary with victories in handicaps at Gowran and Cork which might not, on the face of it, spell pattern race success but O'Brien clearly expects much more to come. O'Brien mentioned the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot as a possibility after Crown Regent beat Rithab by two and a half lengths at Cork, but today's race looks an easier option.

Easier, but not easy, with Cool Edge and Wizard King in opposition. Cool Edge got first run on a far from wound up Desert King in the Gladness but like Wizard King, beaten here by Burden Of Proof last month and subsequently in France, is a notably tough and consistent customer. However, both are exposed and in such a situation, it often pays to follow the young, improving animal. Crown Regent looks such a type.

The Listed Glencairn Stakes is the other main event on the card and this too can fall to O'Brien.

Theano ran behind Burden Of Proof and Wizard King here last month but should come on significantly for that