Second Empire for France

Ireland's highest-rated juvenile, Second Empire, will run in Sunday's Grand Criterium at Longchamp. Michael Kinane will again ride the unbeaten Aidan O'Brien-trained colt, who impressively won the Group 3 Prix de Chenes at Longchamp last month.

Kevin Prendergast yesterday confirmed Oscar Schindler as a definite runner in the Prix Royal Oak, the French St Leger, at Longchamp on October 26th.

"He cantered this morning and has come out of the Arc in great shape. Cash Asmussen will again ride," Prendergast said.

After his fourth in last Sunday's Arc, Oscar Schindler has been raised to an official rating of 124 by the Irish handicapper from a mark of 120 before the race. The 124 rating equals that which the horse gained in last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Meanwhile, Cheltenham have promised better ground at the famous track for the three-day Murphys Gold Cup meeting in mid-November which hopes to attract a significant number of Irish runners.

The Cheltenham manager, Edward Gillespie, was in Fairyhouse yesterday to publicise the meeting, which runs from November 14th-16th, and reported the old watering system, which took two days to water the entire course, has been updated.

"We have doubled the number of sprays, which means we can get an inch-and-a-half of water on to the course in just over 24 hours," said Gillespie, who hopes to produce better ground than last year's good to firm at the corresponding meeting. The state of the ground was also criticised at last March's festival. There will be a £750 travel allowance for Irish runners at the November meeting.

Top jump rider Tommy Treacy received an eight-day suspension from the Fairyhouse stewards yesterday for making "insufficient effort" on Ceoil Agus Craic, sixth in the Rossmore Hurdle. The horse was also given a 42-day ban from racing, while his trainer Michael Holden was fined £400 for using the racecourse as a training ground.