Eye Of The Storm pictured winning at Listowel on his last start
(Healy Racing Photos)

The three-year-old son of Galileo finished second to Missunited in the Listed Oyster Stakes over a mile and a half at Galway earlier this month, but he gained revenge today over the longer trip of two miles.

He had since won the Listed Listowel Stakes, and he was sent off the 8/13 favourite (opened on-course at 9/10) to follow up here.< Missunited was sent off the 7/2 second favourite, and the Mick Winters trained mare attempted to make all under Seamie Heffernan, with the eventual winner settling towards the rear in sixth.

As they entered the straight Missunited stayed on the rail, while her rivals drifted wide, with Joseph O’Brien getting serious aboard the winner over two furlongs out.

The chestnut victor responded well to pressure, and he got on terms at the furlong pole, keeping on best from there to just edge ahead close home, winning by three parts of a length at the line.< Missunited took second, while Leah Claire ran a cracker, finishing just a length back in third under Danny Grant for Willie McCreeryat 20/1.

Aidan O'Brien said afterwards: "We weren’t sure about the two miles but he got it well. He travelled well and I don’t think he needs to go that far.

"I’d say he is finished for the year now and he could make up into a cup horse next year.

"I think he got a kick as a foal which resulted in him losing an eye."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

Geoffrey Chaucer and Joseph O'Brien on their way to victory, with Altruistic back in third
(Healy Racing Photos)

The son of Montjeu won his maiden at Leopardstown in July, beating Tarfasha(finished third in the Blenheim Stakes earlier) by a neck, and he was sent off the 4/7 favourite to follow up this afternoon.

Settled in fourth, the bay colt was pushed along two furlongs out, and he responded well to pressure, hitting the front around a furlong from home, keeping on well from there to score by a length and a quarter.

Oklahoma City made it a one, two for Aidan O’Brien, as he took second under Seamie Heffernan at 5/1, while Altruistic was three parts of a length back in third under trainer/jockey Johnny Murtagh.

Exogenesis was taken out of the contest this morning after been sold.

Aidan O’Brien said afterwards: "He didn’t learn much in front the last day. We were hoping there would be more pace on today, which there was, and he was still a bit green when hit the front.

"If everything goes to plan he will go to Doncaster for the Racing Post Trophy."

O’Brien went on the talk about the runner-up, saying: "I knew he was crying out to go further and on pedigree there is plenty of stamina on the dam’s side.

"He is in the sales race at Newmarket and it is quite possible he could go there." <Geoffrey Chaucer is now a 16/1 for the Epsom Derby with Paddy Power, Boylesports and Ladbrokes.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

Afonso De Sousa and Joseph O'Brien on their way to victory
(Healy Racing Photos)

The successful three-year-old son of Henrythenavigator won his maiden at Leopardstown on his third start in July of 2012, and he then finished third of five to Dundonnell in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York the following month.

Stepped up in trip to a mile and two for the first time, and having his first run since York, the bay colt was sent off a 2/1 chance having opened at 6/4 on-course.

Having raced mainly in second, he improved to lead entering the straight, and he kept on well under pressure to hold off the challenge of Dabadiyan (11/10 favourite), scoring by a length and a half at the line.

The runner-up was bidding for his fourth win in-a-row, but he couldn’t match the winner in the home straight, and he had to settle for second under Declan McDonogh for Mick Halford.

Joseph O'Brien said afterwards: "He is a lovely big horse. He was prepped to go to Dubai but he had a little setback and then he was ready in the middle part of the year but he had another setback.

"He is very genuine and he did another circuit as I couldn’t pull him up."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

Red Rocks Point is driven out by Joseph O'Brien (left) to beat Cheeky Chappie
(Healy Racing Photos)

The bay son of Fastnet Rock was well-supported on-course, and having opened at 3/1, he was backed into 7/4 favouritism at the off.

Having raced in mid-division, he was pushed along briefly four furlongs out, and he was ridden and progressed into third two furlongs from home.

He hit the front inside the final furlong, and he wandered slightly under pressure in the closing stages, but he held on to score by a neck.

Cheeky Chappie, for David Wachman and Wayne Lordan, finished a gallant second at 10/1, while Zarib came through to take third, two and three parts of a length back under Declan McDonogh for Mick Halford at 16/1.

Joseph O’Brien said afterwards: "He is a grand horse and he is quite laid back. He was quite lazy during the race and he is by a very exciting sire."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

Geoffrey Chaucer
(Healy Racing Photos)

O’Brien has an outstanding record in the Group Two Juddmonte Beresford Stakes and the champion trainer, who is chasing his 13th success in the race, has a strong representation in the featured contest at the Curragh this Sunday.

O’Brien is responsible for two of the six runners in the race with Geoffrey Chaucer and Oklahoma City. He will face tough opposition from Exogenesis trained by Ger Lyons, the Andy Oliver-trained All Set To Go, Not to Yield trained by Dermot Weld and Altruistic trained and ridden by Johnny Murtagh.

A strong support programme includes the Group Three C.L. Weld Park Stakes with trainer Dermot Weld hoping to win the race named to honour his late father with Tarfasha. Other notable contenders include the John Oxx trained My Titania, Chroussa trained by Jim Bolger and recent Tipperary winner Diamond Stilettos.

The Aidan O’Brien trained Guerre is among the eight runners in the Listed Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Blenheim Stakes, while Galway Hurdle winner Missunited returns to the flat when the Michael Winters trained mare lines up in The Irish Field Loughbrown Stakes where she will face the Dermot Weld trained Unaccompanied and Eye of the Storm trained by Aidan O’Brien most notably

Meanwhile, there are 25 entries for the valuable Mongey Communications Joe McGrath Premier Handicap including Twenty One Choice trained in Britain by Ed De Giles and 22 runners in The Irish Times Handicap

- - 1st race 2.10pm

Admission 15 euro Seniors and Under 25s 8 euro, Under 16s free (accompanied by an adult)

To celebrate the All Ireland Hurling Final replay between Cork and Clare, the Curragh is offering all ticket holders, FREE admission to the races on Sunday 29th September. Ticket holders simply have to bring their All Ireland Hurling Replay Ticket to the races to avail of this offer.

The race day is themed for the Irish Pony Club to celebrate the end of their busy summer season with a fun and exciting day for all the family to enjoy and presentations made throughout the afternoon to winners of various pony club disciplines. All Pony Club Members gain free admission.

The Jog for Jockeys, a 5k and 10k run over the spectacular Curragh plains takes place during the morning of the race day with proceeds going to the Injured Jockeys Fund, for details see www.jogforjockeys.ie

War Command
(Healy Racing Photos)

Aidan O'Brien is responsible for 13 of the entries after the latest forfeit stage of the Dewhurst

The master of Ballydoyle has surprisingly won only two previous renewals of the seven-furlong Group One (Rock Of Gibraltar, 2001 and Beethoven, 2009), which so often sees the crowning of the season's champion juvenile.

Among this year's baker's dozen are Great White Eagle, War Command and Michaelmas, although that trio are all engaged in the six-furlong Middle Park Stakes on the same afternoon.

O'Brien still has two unraced colts in the race in Red Rocks Point and Johann Strauss.

Kingsbarns pictured winning his maiden at Navan
(Healy Racing Photos)

The Ballydoyle trainer is seeking a second Arc after Dylan Thomas in 2007, and at this stage can call on Ruler Of The World, Leading Light, Kingsbarns and Camelot, although ground conditions are crucial to the latter.

Epsom Derby hero Ruler Of The World stated his case when narrowly beaten in the Prix Niel, while Queen's Vase winner Leading Light landed the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster to earn a possible supplementary entry for the Longchamp showpiece on October 6th.

O'Brien said: "At the moment we have in the mix Ruler Of The World, Leading Light, Camelot and Kingsbarns. Camelot will only run if the ground is good or better.

"Leading Light will have to be supplemented and he will work next week before any decision is made. He's lazy but is not short of class."

One-time Derby favourite Kingsbarns has had just one run since winning last year's Racing Post Trophy, that when a heavily-eased last of six in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

O'Brien said: "It would be a big call after Leopardstown and he's also in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

"We have always thought the world of him, he seemed to bang his knees together crossing the road down the back straight at Leopardstown. Joseph (O'Brien) waited about a furlong to see if his action would come back but the race was over then and he looked after him."

O'Brien added that he was likely to be represented by Wonderfully in the Shadwell Fillies' Mile at Newmarket on Friday but that Darwin and Cristoforo Colombo were set to bypass the Joel Stakes on the same card.

Angel Chorus, middle, comes through to take the spoils in Listowel
(Healy Racing Photos)

There was two and a half lengths in it at the end of two miles, but when she found the gap just over a furlong out, after suffering some buffeting, the four-year-old filly by Dylan Thomas quickened away nicely.

Champion flat trainer Aidan O’Brien commented: “That was great. It got a little bit tight out there, but she travelled well and got through the gap. It’s a lovely place to get a winner.

“She had a good run the last day and she’ll probably go for a winners’ bumper next and has the option of running on the flat. She could go jumping for someone at some stage.”

Angel Chorus gave her supporters a 4/1 return. Rock High Lady at 12s came in second with 5/2 favourite Loch Ard Lady third, beaten three lengths by the winner.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

Egyptian Warrior slammed the opposition at Listowel
(Healy Racing Photos)

Now wearing blinkers having sported cheek-pieces in the past, Egyptian Warriorstayed on much too powerfully in the closing stages of this mile and a half contest to slam Hareth by seven lengths with the well-gambled favourite Park Place having to settle for third.

Joseph acknowledged of his mother and father's charge: "It was probably a fairly ordinary race but he picked up well. The blinkers probably helped.

"He was disappointing in a couple of bumpers but the ground was bottomless and today's ground was soft but it wasn't winter soft." (TW & EM)

Eye Of The Storm scores in style
(Healy Racing Photos)

Joseph O'Brien, completing a double on the card, tracked leader Inis Meainthroughout in the mile-and-a-half listed contest before letting his mount hit the front with just under half a mile to run.

The champion jockey asked his mount for an effort in the straight and he galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a cosy two-and-a-half length success over the early leader.

The well-backed 10/11 favourite (from 5/4) was confirming Galway placings withInis Meain as the pair had been second and third behind Missunited nine days ago.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained winner had been making his return from a break then having last run in April when just denied by Sugar Boy in the Sandown Classic Trial.

“He didn't do the right thing at Galway. It was his first run for a long time and he ran off the first bend. That cost me the race as he lost six lengths,” said O'Brien junior.

“The plan today was to get him relaxed and lets things happen after that. It was his first time left handed and we were worried about that but he quickened up well. He wants nicer ground.”

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)

Joseph O'Brien
(Healy Racing Photos)

The son of MasterCraftsman opened 8/13 on course but was punted into 2/5 for the seven-furlong Listowel Arms Median Auction Maiden.

The Ballydoyle colt tracked the leaders before taking closer order entering the straight as Upper Silesian tackled front-runner Screenshot.

The hotpot was ridden to lead just inside the final furlong and kept on well in the closing stages for a two-length success.

The Panhandler, who had attracted support at fancy prices this morning (40/1 into 16/1), got up close home to nab Upper Silesian for the runner-up spot.

Craftsman had just lost out by half a length on his debut at Gowran Park earlier in the month.

“He's a grand horse and he had a nice run first time out. He shows plenty of pace so the trip was no problem. He handles an ease but that was very testing,” said the winning rider afterwards.

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)

Leading Light has 8st 4lbs for the Melbourne Cup
(Healy Racing Photos)

The Mikel Delzangles-trained Dunaden has been alloted 58.5kg (9st 3lb) by the handicapper following his 2011 success while Robert Hickmott's Green Moon, who struck gold 12 months ago, has been given 57.5kg (9st 1lb) as he tries for back-to-back wins.

Ed Dunlop's Red Cadeaux lost out to Dunaden in a tight finish and has 56.5kg (8st 13lb) this time around, 3lb more than last year while Delzangles' runner has been eased 1lb.

"Dunaden has been allotted the top weight for the second year running, however I have reduced his weight by 0.5kg to 58.5kg in recognition of the fact he was beaten almost 10 lengths by Green Moon in last year's race when favourite," said Greg Carpenter, general manager of Racing Victoria.

"Whilst Dunaden enjoys a weight reduction, history still presents a significant challenge as no original top weight has won the Cup since Comic Court in 1950. In fact 20 of them have tried and not one of them has placed so he will rightly claim a place in history if triumphant," he said.

Tom Dascombe's Brown Panther had to miss an intended prep run in the Irish St Leger last weekend as he was not 100% but he remains in the mix and has been given 55kg (8st 9lb).

Irish Leger winner Voleuse De Coeurs has 54kg (8st 7lb) but connections have indicated she is likely to head to France in the autumn rather than Australia.

Her trainer Dermot Weld still has Pale Mimosa in the mix on 50kg (7st 12lb), a weight also allotted to John Hammond's Hammerfest, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Foundry, Andre Fabre's Only A Pleasure, Opinion from Sir Michael Stoute's yard, the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Caravan Rolls On and Ed Walker's Ruscello.

O'Brien has more prominent candidates in St Leger hero Leading Light on 52.5kg (8st 4lb) and Ernest Hemingway 53.5kg (8st 6lb) while the Willie Mullins-trained Simenon is also on 53.5kg.

Johnny Murtagh's Royal Diamond has 54.5kg (8st 8lb), the same mark as Marco Botti's Dandino and the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Ahzeemah, who finished second in the Irish Leger.

Godolphin also have Royal Empire on 54kg , Colour Vision on 52.5kg and Songcraft on 52kg (8st 3lb).

Mount Athos finished fifth last year for Luca Cumani and has 54kg again this time while Dunlop's Joshua Tree is on 55kg (8st 9lb).

David Lanigan has two contenders in Main Sequence on 53kg (8st 5lb) and Biographer on 50.5kg (7st 13lb).

Nicky Henderson's Forgotten Voice has 52.5kg with William Haggas' Sun Central on 51.5kg rounding out the European interest.

Gai Waterhouse has plenty of contenders headed by last year's second Fiorente (55kg), winner of the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes, while the Darren Weir-trained Puissance De Lune (54.5kg) is also prominent in the betting.

Hickmott's Sea Moon (56.5kg) is a familiar name having been formerly trained by Stoute while ex-John Gosden pair of Masked Marvel (54kg) and Thought Worthy (52.5kg) also feature.

Mekong River (navy) comes through to head Hidden Oasis in the closing stages
(Healy Racing Photos)

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, and ridden by Joseph, the son of Galileo was maintaining his unbeaten record today, after winning his maiden (in the Stewards Room) at Gowran last month before following up at Killarney.

Having opened at 3/1 overnight with Paddy Power, he was available at just 7/4 with the same firm this morning, however he drifted to an opening show of 5/2 on-course before going off at 9/4 chance.

Fitted with a visor for the first time, he was settled towards the rear and he was being driven along in last as they entering the straight.

However he responded well for pressure, getting a lovely run through on the rail over a furlong from home, keeping on strongly in the closing stages to score by a length.

Hidden Oasis (7/2 overnight, and 2/1 to 15/8 favourite on-course) hit the front a furlong out and he looked the most likely winner under Fran Berry for David Wachman, however he had no answer to the winners challenge, and he had to settle for second, with Colour Blue just a neck back in third.

Joseph O’Brien said afterwards: "He is improving away with racing and he is a grand horse. I was happy to get the gap on the rail and he quickened up well when he got it.

"He seems to be coming along and it is hard to know how good he is."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

Ruler Of The World
(Healy Racing Photos)

It was Japanese Derby hero Kizuna who got the verdict on the nod over Epsom victor Ruler Of The World in a tight finish.

Despite having endured a troubled passage to the line, Ryan Moore brought the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt with a late run and there was just a whisker in it.

A photo-finish was called, with the Shozo Sasaki-trained Kizuna, ridden by Yutaka Take, getting the verdict by a short head.

The Andre Fabre-trained Ocovango was third, with his stablemate Flintshire, who had gone into the race as ante-post favourite for the Arc, only fourth.

Guerre, right, beats Atlantic Sea, left, and Diamond Stilettos at the Curragh
(Healy Racing Photos)

The American-bred son of War Front, trained by Aidan O’Brien, was popular in the betting ring before this first racecourse appearance as his price contracted to 11/10 on the off from an opening show of 6/4.

Diamond Stilettos bounced out smartly and took the field along in this contest over the straight six furlongs. Guerre though came through under Joseph O’Brien with a furlong and a half to run and quickened up nicely to beat the staying on Atlantic Sea (7/1) by three parts of a length.

Daimond Stilettos ran a very creditable race in third after showing up prominently throughout. She was just pipped for second by a head, but rewarded her each way punters at 66/1 and looked to be one for the horse tracker here as this could prove to be a hot maiden.

There was a two and a half length gap back to Zaindera in fourth of the 19 runners.

“He quickened up well, but he then got a bit tired and he was green too. He could turn into a Middle Park horse and could improve quite a bit,” Aidan O’Brien said.

Guerre holds an entry in next year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

Camelot
(Healy Racing Photos)

Last year's dual Derby winner won the Group 3 Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh in May, but was beaten by Al Kazeem in his subsequent two Group 1 outings in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Prince Of Wales's Stakes.

Leading Light pictured on his way to victory at Royal Ascot
(Healy Racing Photos)

Jockey Joseph O'Brien, supplying his father Aidan with his fourth winner of Britain's oldest Classic, settled his mount in second place in the early stages as pacesetter Cap O'Rushes cut out a fairly sedate early tempo.

And although the leader tried to kick on from the front early in the home straight, the winner was always ideally positioned and he struck for home well over two furlongs out.

Galileo Rock, on his outside, tried to go with the winner and may have momentarily headed him briefly, but the successful 7/2 favourite simply had too many guns for his rivals and put clear air between himself and his rivals on the run to the furlong-pole that could not be overhauled.

Talent (8/1), who would not have been suited by the slow early gallop, cruised through the field to try and throw down her challenge to the winner but ultimately couldn't quite find as much as it looked she might.

She stayed on determinedly for second though, a length and a quarter adrift of the winner, and three-quarters of a length ahead of Galileo Rock. Godolphin's Libertarian hit top gear too late and finished fourth.

Matron Stakes contender Scintillula
(Healy Racing Photos)

John Gosden's four-times Group One scorer had been in the frame to travel to Ireland, but connections have instead chosen to abort the mission.

A strong 12-runner field has still been declared for the Group One over a mile.

French raider Kenhope is arguably the most interesting horse in the line-up. The three-year-old filly finished second to Sky Lantern in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, after which she claimed third spot behind Elusive Kate in the Prix Rothschild in July.

Aidan O'Brien saddles three runners in recent Curragh scorer Say, Just Pretending and Magical Dream, while Jim Bolger will be represented by Scintillula.

Fiesolana, trained by Willie McCreery, was supplemented for the Matron on Monday after she won the Fairy Bridge Stakes at Tipperary.

Lady Cecil sends Chigun to Ireland from her stables in Newmarket. The four-year-old filly was successful in a Group Three at the Curragh in May.

Caponata reverts to a mile after she finished second in the Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh last month, with Wannabe Better set for a brisk return to action after she struck in Listed company at Killarney a week and a half ago.

The popular Lily's Angel has her first start in a Group One since May 2012, with La Collina still in the hat for the Kevin Prendergast team.

One Spirit was fifth behind Say in the Group Three Dance Design Stakes last week and also tries her luck at the top table.

Declaration Of War
(Healy Racing Photos)

The five-year-old had been due to bypass the 10-furlong feature in favour of a trip to France on Sunday week but the weather forecast has prompted a potential change in plan by Charlton and owner John Deer.

Al Kazeem suffered his first defeat of this campaign when beaten into third by Declaration Of War in the Juddmonte International at York last month and the pair could clash again.

While officials at Leopardstown would love to host a second encounter between the pair, clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer admits it would appear an unlikely event as each horse requires different conditions.

"We're not sure exactly how much (rain the track will get), but they are talking from Friday midnight through to the early part of Saturday. We are maybe looking at 15 or 20 millimetres of rain," he told At The Races.

"I can't tell you what the going is going to be on Saturday, but we are good to firm at the moment and I think the whole team has produced gorgeous racing ground, it's beautiful.

"We're kind of keeping all the plates spinning in the air at the moment. We stopped watering on Tuesday given the fact of rain coming in.

"I dare say if you came and walked the track on Friday night in advance of the rain, you might find it may be quicker than ideal for some horses, so we are playing poker a little bit at the moment.

"If the rain comes, looking on the positive side, 20mm is not coming in the space of an hour and a half, it's 20mm over a sustained period of time, maybe two or three millimetres per hour. If that's the case, the track is in fabulous condition and is well able to take that volume of rain.

"To give a guide to how it may go, I'd say it may be no worse than yielding or good to soft, but that's an estimated guess.

"Unfortunately, it may be slow enough for Al Kazeem, but if it's slow enough for him, it will be too slow for Declaration Of War.

"We would love to have them all here, but that's unlikely.

"If the forecast changes dramatically, we are well positioned as we put approximately 12mm on the track on Monday and Tuesday. The track will be well receptive to maybe selected light watering, just to ensure there's no jar in the ground."

Declaration Of War has been declared along with stablemate Kingsbarns, while other big names in the line-up include Trading Leather and The Fugue.

Completing the field are Euphrasia, Parish Hall and Princess Highway.

Joseph O'Brien has been booked to ride Declaration Of War with Seamie Heffernan down to ride Kingsbarns.

Joseph O'Brien
(Healy Racing Photos)

With Roger Charlton's Al Kazeem thought likely to be an absentee, Juddmonte International winner Declaration Of War was the horse for money in the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes on Wednesday, with Paddy Power cutting the four-year-old to 7-4 favourite from 2-1.

O'Brien also had five other possibles at the confirmation stage on Monday, including Kingsbarns, who has not run since last season's Racing Post Trophy.

Declarations for the Irish Champion and the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes are due to be made on Thursday morning.

Speaking at Gowran, Joseph O'Brien said: "Dad will talk to the owners and finalise plans this evening.

"Declaration Of War is a definite possible as long as the ground stays quick.

"Kingsbarns is another possible. Obviously he has been off for nearly a year and it would be a massive ask.

"There is a chance Ruler Of The World will also run, but he might go to France the following week instead for an Arc trial (Prix Niel)."

He added: "Just Pretending, Magical Dream and Say are our three in the Matron. The three of them might run as long as the ground stays quick.

"I'm not sure who I will be riding in both races."

Heirloom gets better of Todd
(Healy Racing Photos)

25/1 shot Todd cut out the running and, as has been the story of the night, the front-runner proved hard to peg back.

9/4 favourite Heirloom had to pull out all the stops to grab the leader inside the final furlong and record a length success under Joseph O'Brien.

The Ballydoyle colt was dropping back in trip here having been beaten when a short price for a 1m6f handicap at Leopardstown last time.

“I was very happy with him. He stays well and he handled the good ground,” saidJoseph O'Brien afterwards.

(Additional reporting by Donal Murphy)

The Solonoway Stakes at the Curragh is next on the agenda for Darwin
(Healy Racing Photos)

Aidan O'Brien's filly was promoted to second after being interfered with by Kiyoshi in the Group One, won by Rizeena.

Tapestry had previously struck in the Debutante Stakes in good style and was supplemented for the Curragh showpiece.

"She ran very well," said O'Brien. "As for the rest of this year, she has the option of going for the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket (September 27) or we might just leave her off for the rest of the season."

Stablemate Darwin is due to have his next race in the Group Three Solonaway Stakes at the Curragh on September 15.

The American recruit has won at Naas and the Curragh so far this season and holds entries in the QEII Stakes and the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

"The plan for Darwin is to run him in the Solonoway Stakes at the Curragh, we'll hope to step him up (in class) after that," said O'Brien.

Victory Song beats from left to right, Tonabrocky, Cape Glory and Deep Speed
(Healy Racing Photos)

Earlier on the mark on Dazzling, Great White Eagle and Say, Joseph O'Brien got 11/10 chance Victory Song to the front three furlongs out and he stayed on well in the final furlong to account for Deep Speed (came home really well) by a length.

Cape Glory tumbled in the betting from around 7/1 earlier in the day into 5/2. However he was in trouble from over four furlongs out. To his credit he kept going to be three parts of a length off the principals.

"He's a grand big horse. He's back after a break and I was afraid that he might not be ready.

"He's got a great pedigree and he stays well," reported O'Brien senior. (GC & EM)

Al Kazeem
(Healy Racing Photos)

Roger Charlton's five-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic campaign so far, completing a Group One hat-trick in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

He suffered his first defeat when third in a fast-ground Juddmonte International at York last month and with similar conditions likely in Ireland on Saturday, the Prix Foy at Longchamp on September 15 will come under consideration.

"If you look at the weather forecast there should be some rain on Wednesday into Thursday, but I don't think a lot," Charlton told At The Races.

"It will take a lot to change the ground there, so I would say he's extremely unlikely (to run) unless suddenly we read there's a thunder storm and it's going to pour with rain.

"We'll have a look at the Prix Foy as an alternative. That is the next thing we'll look at and then we'll decide if he runs and what he does after that. It's still in the air."

Leopardstown's racing and operations manager Nessa Joyce reported a dry and bright afternoon at the Foxrock venue on Tuesday and is not expecting any significant change until Saturday itself.

Joyce said: "It's an amazing day today. It's dry, bright and warm and there are people out and about in shorts.

"Temperatures might be a little cooler on Wednesday and Thursday, but it's due to be dry. I'm told it's very unlikely we'll get any rain over the next few days.

"MET Eireann say there is something from the south east brewing that could arrive on Saturday itself, so there is a chance of some showers then, but we'll have to see.

"We are watering at the moment and we expect to send out a going report of good to firm on Wednesday morning."

Aidan O'Brien's was repsonsible for six of the 13 entries at Monday's confirmation stage.

The sextet includes Juddmonte International winner Declaration Of War, brilliant two-year-old Kingbarns and Derby winner Ruler Of The World, but Joyce is as much in the dark as anyone else about which will line up.

"Aidan is keeping his cards close to his chest," she said.

"They won't be going into any of the races half-hearted and I'm sure they'll be picking carefully which should run in the Irish Champion.

"There is also The Fugue and Trading Leather in the race. I can see those two and one of Aidan's coming up the straight together, that would be great."

Top stayer Simenon (left) is a Melbourne possible
(Healy Racing Photos)

Dermot Weld, twice successful in Australia's Premier race, has entered Pale Mimosa and Voleuse De Coeurs.

Aidan O'Brien has three entries, Ernest Hemingway, Foundry and Leading Light.

The other two Irish horses are the Willie Mullins' trained Simenon and Royal Diamond from the yard of Johnny Murtagh.

The last two winners of the Emirates Melbourne Cup, Green Moon and Dunaden, are also amongst the locally-trained entrants.

Great White Eagle gets the job done under Joseph O'Brien at the Curragh
(Healy Racing Photos)

Remember You (David Wachman) is also owned by the Coolmore triumvirate as is third home Expedition and fifth place finisher Bluebell.

Aidan O'Brien's (100th winner of the campaign in Ireland) exciting Great White Eagle was waited with by son Joseph (his 95th winner of the season) before being delivered on the wide outside from a furlong and a half out.

The record-breaking breeze-up purchase soon led and there was only going to be one winner from there home as the son of Elusive Quality went on to confirm himself as one of the best juveniles we've seen in 2013.

Aidan O'Brien commented: "You'd have to be delighted with that. It was a tough race – there was plenty of pace on.

"He was trapped out wide and he had no choice but to come up the middle and it's a hard thing to do here.

"You'd have to be very happy.

"He was drawn out there – there was pace out there and it was tight.

"He followed up them up for as long as he could. He kept it safe by going wide and it's always the right thing to do.

"We'll step him up now with a choice of the National Stakes or the Middle Park and all those types of races.

"We didn't ask him to come forward and we let him coast into this race a bit.

"Next time we'll ask him to come forward a bit.

"What's good about this horse is that he has great pace and travels very strongly.

"You couldn't see him getting any further than a mile the way he travels." (GC & EM)

Dazzling leads them home in the first at the Curragh

This May-foaled filly is a sister to Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Roderic O'Connor, who also finished second in the Dewhurst Stakes and won the Criterium International at two. On pedigree she (a 925,000 guineas yearling) is the type to progress well as the season unfolds; her dam (Secret Garden) was unraced as a two-year-old but she made up for lost time at three, winning twice including at Listed level.

Anyway, Dazzling made most in this mile contest and despite drifting away from the rail from over a furlong out, she was able to contain her Ballydoyle stable companion, Shell House (a huge eye-catcher under Ryan Moore) by two and three parts of a length.

Strong favourite Sparkle Factor challenged down the centre of the track but she had every chance and ended up three parts of a length adrift in third.

Aidan O'Brien said: "She's still very green but you'd have to be delighted the way she did it.

"We thought she'd be very green and we weren't sure if she'd know enough to win first time but she was well on top at the line.

"We could step up anywhere now with her.

"I knew he (Joseph) wanted to get a lead but he was maybe just left in front.

"She's a big strong powerful filly – a big mile and a half type."

Boylesports go 20/1 Dazzling for the Oaks next year. (GC & EM)