RACING NEWS:ALESSANDRO VOLTA turned into the "bad boy" of the Irish Derby but Aidan O'Brien's wayward colt could get an early opportunity to rehabilitate his reputation in Monday's Group One Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp.
The son of Montjeu is one of four Ballydoyle entries for the Bastille Day centrepiece at the Paris track, which O'Brien won in track record time with Scorpion three years ago.
Alessandro Volta, along with the trio of Bashkirov, William Hogarth and King Of Westphalia were all described as "possibles" by the champion trainer yesterday for the mile-and-a-half three-year-old contest.
If he runs, most interest is sure to be on Alessandro Volta, who was Johnny Murtagh's Irish Derby pick 12 days ago only to ruin his chance by veering dramatically left in the straight and taking out Curtain Call in the process.
The Luca Cumani-trained Curtain Call is one of the 13 other entries for Monday's race, where he will be ridden by Frankie Dettori. He finished one place behind Alessandro Volta at the Curragh but an appeal into the stewards' failure to promote him ahead of the O'Brien horse will be heard at the Turf Club later this month.
Alessandro Volta didn't escape scot-free from the Irish Derby, however, and emerged from the race with some cuts to his legs. But O'Brien said yesterday: "He got a few nicks but he seems fine. Like the others he is a possible for that race but we won't make a decision until closer to the time."
The champion trainer will certainly be hoping for a happier experience in Paris than in last year's renewal when Kieren Fallon was unshipped from Eagle Mountain in the early stages of the race after a clash with the Stephane Pasquier-ridden winner Zambezi Sun.
The fall resulted in Fallon having to stand down for the following day's Irish Oaks, where Johnny Murtagh successfully stepped in for the ride on Peeping Fawn.
Monday's French highlight is the intended target for the Epsom Derby fourth Doctor Fremantle, who represents Michael Stoute and the race sponsors.
O'Brien still hopes to run four in Sunday's Irish Oaks but said jockey plans for the quartet of Moonstone, Ice Queen, Adored and Gentle On My Mind have yet to be finalised.
O'Brien's and Murtagh's Group One focus today will be on the Darley July Cup at Newmarket, where the leading jockey teams up with US Ranger while Ryan Moore is on the Ballydoyle second string Astronomer Royal.
O'Brien's local interest will be of the more bread-and-butter variety this evening at Wexford, where the classically bred Hold Me Love Me could see her chances of a value-boosting win in the 13-furlong maiden scuppered by Zamiyla.
Best bet at the meeting looks like being Eritrea in the 13-furlong handicap.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)