Van Nistelrooy may reappear at the Curragh

RACING: The $6.4 million Van Nistelrooy could make the second start of his career in Saturday's Flame Of Tara Tyros Stakes.

Last year's most expensive yearling purchase made a winning debut at the Curragh on Oaks day over a "soft" surface. However, Aidan O'Brien is not keen to risk the colt on similar ground again.

"Van Nistelrooy seems in good form since the last day and we are seriously looking at the Tyros. But he is not a definite because we will have to see what the going will be like. Obviously the better the ground the better for him," O'Brien said yesterday.

The ground at the Curragh yesterday was "yielding" and little change is predicted between now and Saturday.

The Ballydoyle alternative for the Tyros is Brian Boru, who made his own winning debut at headquarters by a neck last month.

Van Nistelrooy was made favourite with some bookmakers for next year's 2,000 Guineas on the strength of his debut and a formidable home reputation. However, yesterday there was still 20 to 1 available for the Guineas with some firms.

O'Brien has not made up his mind whether or not Bach and Della Francesca will travel to Ascot on Saturday for the King George or stay at home for the Group Three Meld Stakes.

"A lot will depend on the ground. Ideally both of them want nice ground," he said.

A total of four British-trained horses have been left in the Meld, including the Ayr classic winner Imperial Dancer and the Mark Prescott-trained Foreign Affairs.

Imperial Dancer was yesterday described as a "likely" starter, while the Barry Hills trained Chancellor is a "strong possibility".

Next week's Hewlett-Packard Galway Plate has already seen a significant ante-post move for the Paul Nolan-trained Torduff Boy, who is Paddy Power's new 9 to 1 favourite from 20 to 1 last week.

"It has been pretty strong support and there was a 12,000 to 1,000 bet yesterday," a firm spokesman said.

An otherwise undistinguished card at Naas this evening sees the debut of Rock Of Gibralter's full brother, Great Pyramid, in the six-furlong maiden.

Aidan O'Brien used this race to give Giant's Causeway his first start in 1999 and the newcomer will face a stout challenge from the Curragh runner-up Just Hitched.

The Ballydoyle camp have decided to hike Maderno in trip for the mile conditions race, and the 108 rating the brother to Fasliyev has earned so far makes him hard to oppose.

Jayne Mulqueen won the apprentice handicap on Benovia two years ago and can repeat the feat with Peruvian Athlete, who put in an encouraging performance at Killarney last week.

Keepers Hill has a lot in hand of Virtuous Image on ratings but that counted for little on the course last time. The placings can be confirmed in the opener.

Prince Ahmed Salman, whose horses ran under the banner of the Thoroughbred Corporation, died in Riyadh on Monday.