Tycoon takes a shot in the dark

RACING: Tycoon's attempt on the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes today will be a shot in the dark for the sole three-year-old in the race.

Aidan O'Brien, who won the King George with Galileo in 2001, gave an upbeat bulletin on Tycoon yesterday but remains unsure about how the colt will fare against his elders.

"No one knows yet this year how the three-year-olds will do, but as you would expect, Tycoon has improved a good bit for his run in the Irish Derby.

"The ground will be fast but I don't think he will mind that. He is a decent-moving horse," O'Brien said.

Tycoon's sole start this term was a 150-to-1 third behind Grey Swallow and North Light in the Irish Derby, and he has stayed at a general 25 to 1 in the ante-post King George betting.

O'Brien's Group One weekend won't finish there as he sends Brian Boru (Jamie Spencer) to Dusseldorf tomorrow for a Group One over a mile and a half.

A total of 37 horses were left in the Hewlett-Packard Galway Plate at yesterday's forfeit stage, and they included the ante-post big names such as Banasan, Direct Bearing and Kickham.

However, the 22-runner safety limit could eventually leave the connections of some fancied horses feeling disappointed.

The long handicap topweight Risk Accessor remains among the 37 and he is one of five JP McManus-owned horses left in the race.

Dermot Weld has three left in, but it looks like Mutakarrim could be kept for the Galway Hurdle instead, leaving Ansar and Direct Bearing for the Plate.

Weld has won the Plate twice, with General Idea (1993) and Kiichi in 1990.

Forty-six horses have been left in the Galway Hurdle, with Accordion Etoile's defection meaning that Grimes tops the ratings.

The ground at Ballybrit is currently described as "good to yielding", with the Met office predicting dry weather for the weekend.

Paddy Power bet - Galway Plate: 10 Banasan, 14 Direct Bearing, Wests Awake, Back On Top. Rand, 16 Bar. Galway Hurdle: 7 Puck Out & Cloone River, 10 Batang, 14 Tulipa, Callow Lake, Essex, Mutakarrim, 16 Bar.