Hopes are high for Abbey

NEWS ROUND-UP:SEARCHING FOR the next Sea The Stars may be an impossible task but St Nicholas Abbey could fill the role as Europe's primary classic hope for 2010 if he can maintain his unbeaten record in today's Group One highlight at Doncaster.

Aidan O’Brien is already a four-time winner of the Racing Post Trophy – Saratoga Springs (1997), Aristotle (1999), High Chaparral (2001) and Brian Boru (2002) – and he brings St Nicholas Abbey to Doncaster with a big reputation.

The Montjeu colt is already favourite for next year’s Derby on the back of a comfortable success in the Beresford Stakes last month but faces a major task today in a dozen-strong field that includes other unbeaten colts, Elusive Pimpernel, Al Zir, Coordinated Cut and Andy Oliver’s Elusive Award.

It appears the strongest field lined up in Europe for a two-year-old race this season and the winner is likely to be the focal point for next year’s classics.

The bare form of St Nicholas Abbey’s Beresford Stakes victory – a three quarter length defeat of Layali Al Andalus – doesn’t look particularly strong but O’Brien has made no secret of the regard he has for the horse.

Irish horses have a good record in the mile event under its various guises through the years and Kevin Manning teams up with Elusive Award, who will attempt to secure a ground-breaking Group One success for his Co Tyrone trainer Andy Oliver.

There will also be Irish interest in another of Europe’s Group One events this weekend, Sunday’s 10-furlong Premio Lydia Tessio in Rome, where Dermot Weld attempts to secure top-flight honours for Chinese White.

Champion jockey Pat Smullen travels to Italy for the €206,550 event which has attracted 15 runners, including a strong-British challenge.

Clive Brittain has Nashmiah in the race, while Godolphin run both Lady Marian and Flying Cloud but Chinese White should be a major fancy despite having had to miss the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp on Arc day when Weld was not completely happy with her physical condition.

The 2008 Cheltenham festival winner Finger Onthe Pulse returns to Aintree today for his start since finishing out of the money in the Topham over the National fences last April.

Tom Taaffe’s horse faces seven rivals in the Old Roan Chase, including the former Arkle winner Tidal Bay and last year’s race winner Knowhere.

Gordon Elliott sends Falcon Island to Wexford this afternoon for the two and a half-mile maiden hurdle and this impressive Listowel bumper winner from last May should be tough to beat with Davy Condon on board.

Local trainer Colm Murphy is always one to follow at Wexford and Got Options is worth checking out in the bumper.

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Aidan O’Brien has received a Special Award at the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

The champion trainer was one of three nominations for the award and beat-off film maker Morgan O’Sullivan and Tony Scott, who started the Young Scientist Exhibition, in a ceremony on Thursday night.