Soldier still in the frame

The Epsom Derby hero Authorized may have already been ruled out of next week's the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, but his Curragh counterpart Soldier Of Fortune is still in the frame to restore some three-year-old honour in Britain's premier all-aged event.

Only the Irish-trained pair of Galileo (2001) and Alamshar (2003) have successfully represented the classic generation in the King George in the last decade, and although Aidan O'Brien has a pair of star older horses in Dylan Thomas and Scorpion for Ascot this time, he may run Soldier Of Fortune.

"He is still very much a possible for the King George but we will have to see closer to the time about running plans. He's been very well since the Curragh," said O'Brien who saddled Galileo to win six years ago.

O'Brien appears to hold a very strong hand for a repeat success, as he has four of the six horses named in some ante-post betting lists, including Dylan Thomas, who has been supported into as low as 13 to 8 favourite on the back of confirmation that Authorized will skip the King George and wait for Leopardstown's Champion Stakes in September.

"I am happy with Authorized, as he seems in very good form, although he is entitled to feel a little tired after three hard races this season. With that in mind, he will probably benefit from a break," said the Derby winner's trainer, Peter Chapple-Hyam.

"He has looked after me this season, so now I've got to look after him. We will build him up with the Arc as the obvious target. But he will probably run before that in the Irish Champion Stakes. If he doesn't head for Ireland, he could run in the Juddmonte," he added.

Bookmaker reaction to the news was to make the 2006 Irish Derby winner their new favourite, but it could be the 2007 Irish Derby hero who ends up entering calculations, particularly if the ground is up testing.

Another Ballydoyle three-year-old in the ante-post betting is Eagle Mountain, who emerged with a cut to a leg after the incident in last weekend's Grand Prix de Paris that resulted in Kieren Fallon being unseated.

The recent spell of wet weather has already affected Fairyhouse's Sunday fixture, where runners in the four six-furlong races will be limited to 13 due to waterlogging at the five-furlong pole. The ground is soft to heavy, with heavy patches.

That won't bother the Frank Ennis-trained Confuchias, who is being lined up for the Listed Belgrave Stakes on Sunday ahead of a possible Group One tilt at the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville next month.

"If all goes well at Fairyhouse, then the idea is to go to France," said Ennis yesterday of his colt, who won at Newcastle on his last start. "Soft ground is the key to him. He just didn't like the faster going in the Guineas."

Ennis's other good three-year-old, Ferneley, could return to action in Leopardstown's Desmond Stakes next month after a disappointing run in the Jersey at Royal Ascot.

Ruby Walsh looks the man to follow at Kilbeggan this evening, where the champion jockey can secure up to three winners.

Green Mile drops back in distance from a four-length victory at Killarney earlier in the week, but a 6lb penalty for that shouldn't be too much of a problem for Tony Martin's horse in the second handicap hurdle.

The form of 101-rated Paramount doesn't inspire confidence in the opener, but it doesn't look a great race, while Lord Teapot was second to Sher One Moor at Bellewstown and Cecil Ross's horse can figure in the second maiden hurdle.

Walsh is on the topweight Macs Flamingo in the Ladbrokes Midlands National, but at the other end of the scale, the Tipperary winner On You Go looks to have a decent shout.