Weld's colt looks best

The Group Three Castlemartin/La Louviere Studs Gladness Stakes at the Curragh tomorrow represents the first significant clash between last year's Irish juveniles and the older horses.

However, with the ground verging on the heavy side, Aidan O'Brien has passed up on the notion of introducing one of his major Classic hopefuls Second Empire and Christy Roche in turn has passed up on the two stable runners in preference for the 1996 runner-up Burden Of Proof.

At six years of age, it is difficult to imagine that there is any improvement in him though and Michael Kinane's decision to pick Make No Mistake at 8-4 over what would, weight-wise, be a more comfortable ride on Alarme Belle at 9-1 is noteworthy.

There was no great fancy for him on his only run last year but he still came through to defeat Chateau Royal and Andy Dufresne in clever style and both the placed horses won afterwards. Weld then expressed the opinion that this would turn into a nice three-year-old.

English horses have won two of the last three runnings of this event which indicates that one should take seriously the threat posed by Muchea who was allowed to take his chance in last year's English 2,000 Guineas.

Con Collins' Moyglare Stud Stakes runner up Heed My Warning is another Classic possible making her seasonal debut in the Gladness but I fancy that a better chance of a Con Collins winner is represented by Shanko in the sprint handicap. He was up with the pace all the way here last Sunday and once he shook off Rosarium the contest was decided.

Shahtoush is hard to oppose in the Peter Byrne April Fillies Race while the decision of John Oxx to rely solely on Sheikh Mohammed's American-bred newcomer Playacting is a pointer to his chance in the maiden. Oxx has the line to this type of form through Golden Cat.

Michael Bell's Timekeeper, winner of two Italian Listed prizes I Italy last term bids to collect a third in the Premio Pisa in Tuscany tomorrow. Michael Fenton's mount is one of two British runners as John Hills also runs Night Flyer with Tony clark up.