Danehurst leads invasion

Racing Leopardstown and Wexford previews: A significant English challenge will enliven the Saturday evening meeting at Leopardstown with John Gosden (three runners), Amanda Perrett and Mark Prescott joining forces to see how just much Irish prize money can be extracted. Travelling with them are Kieran Fallon, Richard Hills, Jimmy Fortune and Seb Sanders and all of them could be involved in the big race finishes.

Amongst the raiders star billing goes to the Cheveley Park Stud's Danehurst in the top rank amongst the European sprinters over the past two seasons. In a tribute to her consistency Time Form Annual gave her an almost identical rating in 2001 (117) and 2002 (118). Furthermore, she was placed at Group One level over six furlongs when third to Continent in last year's Darley July Cup at Newmarket and this is the distance of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sweet Mimosa Stakes that she contests tonight.

The Danehurst colours will also be carried half an hour later by Carnival Dancer in the Group Three Meld Stakes although the mount here will be taken by Kieran Fallon as he was trained by Michael Stoute in previous seasons. For his previous handler he won the Sodexho Prestide Scottish Classic in 2001 and last year ran fourth to Storming Home in the Dubai Champion Stakes at Newmarket.

Amanda Perrett's raid on Longchamp last month paid off with a late challenge that carried Carnival Dancer past Naheef who for the record had been one of the favourites in last year's English Derby.

With the percentage strike rate by Irish two-year-olds on England at its lowest levels in five seasons John Gosden felt fully justified in taking us on home territory with Privy Seal who finished third beaten eight lengths and a neck by Three Valleys and Botanical in a 13-runner field for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Tyros Stakes is a race that was hitherto a Curragh feature and Aidan O'Brien who won with the now retired van Nistelrooy last year is double handed with Michael Kinane electing for the Naas winner Mahogany over the Gowran Park winner Go For Gold.