O'Brien has three in Ascot feature

Racing News: Aidan O'Brien will be triple-handed for the opening day feature at the new-look Royal Ascot as he attempts to reclaim dominance of tomorrow's St James's Palace Stakes.

Kieren Fallon's likely mount Ivan Denisovich will be joined in the 11-runner field by the French Guineas runner-up Marcus Andronicus who has been switched to the Group One mile prize from the Jersey Stakes.

The Ballydoyle trainer opened up the decade with three-in-a-row in the St James's Palace courtesy of Giant's Causeway, Black Minnaloushe and Rock Of Gibraltar.

The possible pacemaker, Arabian Prince, last in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, completes the O'Brien team in a race where the Irish Guineas winner, Araafa, will be the probable favourite.

Kevin Prendergast saddled Decado to be third at the Curragh and he will again take on Jeremy Noseda's colt while the French will be represented by Stormy River who was third to Aussie Rules in the French Guineas.

O'Brien and Fallon will also be represented in the other Group One prize tomorrow, the Queen Anne Stakes, courtesy of the 2004 Middle Park Stakes winner Ad Valorem.

Just nine were left in the mile contest at yesterday's final forfeit stage and they are headed by last year's Sussex Stakes winner Proclamation who is now with the Godolphin team.

Other Irish interest in the Queen Anne will centre on the well-bred Akimbo who ran fifth in the race last year for Henry Cecil but who is now with the Co Kildare trainer James Leavy.

There was no luck for Irish trainers in Saturday's French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil but the Roscommon-born owner Seán Mulryan did land the big €320,000 prize with Mid Dancer for local trainer Arnaud Chaille-Chaille.

Mid Dancer had two and a half lengths to spare over the Philip Carberry-ridden Steeple-Chase de Paris winner Princesse D'Anjou but Eric McNamara's hope Strangely Brown looked to be robbed of a place when colliding with a loose horse at the last and unseating his rider. The Willie Mullins-trained Euro Leader finished fifth.

Mullins went closer in the Prix Alain Du Breil, the French Triumph Hurdle, where Dean Gallgher's mount Clear Riposte was a six-length runner-up to the local horse Lina Drop.

At Ballinrobe this evening Harmani can take advantage of a good draw in the apprentice handicap to get punters off to a good start. Harmani was third to Miracle Ridge here last month but a good draw is important around this tight track and the veteran sprinter hasn't got lucky in box one.

Adrian and Jason Maguire team up for Hardwick in the Beginners Chase and this versatile sort should be up to scoring. Twice a winner over hurdles, Hardwick also landed a point to point last year and is versatile enough with ground conditions to make him look a decent bet.

Ruby Walsh looks a significant booking for Twokay in the handicap chase considering the horse is a stone lower in the ratings than when last winning while Misskinta had a hard task against Marsam here last month and has a shout in the three-year-old maiden.