Racing News and Tipperary preview: Watering has started at the Curragh ahead of Sunday's Budweiser Irish Derby.

With most reports indicating that Kris Kin will be a e95,000 supplementary entry at today's vital forfeit stage the track authorities have started work on trying to provide a safe surface for Ireland's premier classic.

A spokeswoman for trainer Michael Stoute said consultations over ground conditions would be made with the Curragh this morning and a final decision taken before the noon deadline for supplementary entries.

"The Derby course is good to firm at the moment and today we started putting a little bit of water on the bits that are inclined to get a little fast," said manager Paul Hensey yesterday. "They are the first couple of furlongs of the Derby track and the top of the hill. We want to keep the going at good to firm all over. I think it will be quick ground but it will be safe and with no jar."

That will please Aidan O'Brien, who has already expressed concern about the going for his quartet of likely runners headed by The Great Gatsby.

The big interest today will be in confirmation of a likely clash between the Epsom hero Kris Kin and the French Derby winner, Dalakhani, with the John Oxx-trained Alamshar providing the primary local interest. Alamshar and Dalakhani are owned by the Aga Khan but bookmakers are in little doubt about how the ante-post market will be priced up today. "Even with all the big names still in, Dalakhani will probably still be odds-on," said Cashmans Joseph Burke.

Tipperary tonight will be very different weatherwise to when the meeting was cancelled there less than two weeks ago. An intriguing little contest is likely for the novice chase, where the formerly prolific Golden Row clashes with The Gatherer from the Arthur Moore yard. Preference is for the latter who has always shown plenty of pace over hurdles but has been suspect in his jumping. The ground should be in his favour, however.

Willie Mullins looks to have found an ideal opportunity for Bassett Tiger in the first division of the Beginners Chase while Beausheram's 111 rating in the second division makes a pretty convincing argument.