Talking Horses

Jim Bolger, narrowly foiled in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket when New Approach was nailed on the line by Henrythenavigator, may have to wait a bit longer for his coveted first victory in the Irish version at The Curragh this afternoon.

Aidan O'Brien has won four of the last 11 runnings of the Irish 2,000 Guineas, sponsored by Boylesports today, and Henrythenavigator (3.45) looks set to emulate Rock Of Gibraltar, who captured both Guineas for Ballydoyle six years ago.

On soft ground, New Approach was three lengths too good for Henrythenavigator when they met last year. But O'Brien's colt had conditions in his favour at Newmarket and produced a telling turn of foot to catch New Approach after the latter had enjoyed an uncontested lead.

Although New Approach rallied to go under by a nose, Henrythenavigator deserves extra credit for making up so much ground from off the pace. Provided the ground stays fast, which seems likely, he can complete the Classic double.

O'Brien has twice won the Irish Guineas with second, or third strings, so Jupiter Pluvius should not be dismissed lightly. He got up close home to beat Famous Name [doubtful here unless the ground eases] in a Group Three at Leopardstown on only his second start last year.

Haydock 2.05 Intrepid Jack, a close second in the Wokingham Handicap last year, could find this five furlongs on the sharp side first time out, but conditions will be ideal for Indian Trail and it is a bonus that Frankie Dettori is back in the saddle. Indian Trail came good with Dettori aboard to win handicaps here and at Sandown last season and, off a mark just 2lb higher than when notching his course and distance win, the eight-year-old can bounce back to form.

Newmarket 2.20 The Chester form of Sir Michael Stoute's Derby contenders, Doctor Fremantle and Tajaaweed, comes under scrutiny here with Pampas Cat, third to Doctor Fremantle in the Vase, taking on the Dee Stakes runner-up, Unnefer. It can pay to side with Henry Cecil's colt, who came clear of the rest when beaten a short head by Tajaaweed.

Haydock 2.35 With Anna Pavlova unlikely to be risked on fast ground, this may not be a strong race for Listed class. Though she has plenty to find on official ratings, Abandon could be good enough. In foal to Pivotal, she won with plenty to spare at Yarmouth at April.

Newmarket 2.50 Last seen finishing a creditable fifth behind New Approach in the Dewhurst Stakes, Luck Money is suited by the conditions of this race and seven furlongs on fast ground should bring out the best in him. Officially rated 3lb ahead of Stimulation, he gets 4lb from Hughie Morrison's colt, who ran well in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket considering he raced wide of the main action.

Haydock 3.05 Duntulm ought to confirm Newmarket form with Flawed Genius considering the amount of ground he gave away at the start, but he could run into a better handicapped colt here in the shape of Virtual. Two subsequent winners have come out of the Newmarket maiden race won by Virtual, suggesting he is fairly treated off a handicap mark of 94.

Newmarket 3.20 Ancien Regime should be suited by dropping back to six furlongs and he looks the danger to Prohibit. Successful at the Craven meeting here, Prohibit ran good race behind Sir Gerry on unfavourable terms at Ascot and a 4lb rise has by no means blown his chances.

Haydock 3.35 See tip of the day below.

Beverley 3.55 With improvement likely, Able Master can follow up his Ripon debut win. Runner-up Mullglen upheld the form at Musselburgh this week.

Tip of the day: Fleeting Spirit 3.35 Haydock

It was encouraging for this season's crop of three-year-old sprinters that Captain Gerrard could beat his elders in the Palace House Stakes. Fleeting Spirit twice accounted for Captain Gerrard in a juvenile campaign that saw her beat the subsequent Nunthorpe winner, Kingsgate Native, and finish a close second to Natagora. With her stable going well, Fleeting Spirit should be hard to beat.

With the John Gosden stable back in business after a quiet spell, Virtual (3.05) will be expected to go close in today's Silver Bowl at Haydock. The colt, who has been given an entry for the Group One St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, has done well since he got off the mark at the Craven meeting.

Newmarket opinion edges towards Fleeting Spirit (3.35) over Dandy Man in the Temple Stakes at Haydock. Jeremy Noseda's filly has done everything asked of her in recent home work.

The Gosden team are out in force at their local track today, with Prohibit (3.20) rated the best bet. Pampas Cat should be suited by dropping back to 10 furlongs in the opening race, but Henry Cecil's Unnefer (2.20) will be hard to beat here. Luck Money (2.50), from the Paul Cole yard, is one to note in the King Charles II Stakes. Winner of the two-year-old race on this Newmarket card a year ago, Luck Money has been working well and Cole has a good guide to relevant form through his French 2,000 Guineas third, River Proud.

Irish Mayhem (4.35) can continue Brian Meehan's good run of form at Newmarket. This three-year-old has been working nicely with Austintatious, so a good run from the latter in the Silver Bowl at Haydock will boost confidence. Meehan's four-year-old, Jack Junior, is reported in good order and should be noted when he reappears. At Chepstow on Monday, Blue Spartan (2.20) is well worth another chance. He was a strong fancy at Windsor last time but the gamble went astray when the bit slipped through his mouth.

Mr Crystal (4.25), an easy winner at Newcastle last time, can go in again at Beverley today. Trainer Micky Hammond believes there are more Flat races to be won with his stayer before Mr Crystal has a crack at the valuable Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen in July.

Over hurdles at Stratford today, Ingratitude (5.40) is worth a bet. Tony McCoy takes over on the five-year-old, who got a rather unenterprising ride in the Swinton Hurdle. McCoy will soon be teaming up with Willie Pep in a novice chase. Charlie Egerton's gelding jumps well and will be fit enough despite being off the track since December.

The Roger Charlton stable were pleased with Oaks filly Clowance, who idled in front when she won at Newbury last week. The Nottingham winner Scuffle will be very interesting when Charlton pitches her into handicap company off a mark of 83. At Beckhampton, Scuffle is rated the equal of the 98-rated Melodramatic, who goes for a Listed race at Newbury next week.

In addition to riding work for Sir Michael Stoute, Kieren Fallon is busy with his website, a fact not lost on his employer. Returning from the gallops with Stoute and Richard Hills the other morning, Fallon was asked by Hills how long it was before he was back riding. "I don't think Kieren will come back," chimed in Stoute. "He's a writer now."

Perhaps the final indication that Jamie Spencer will not be chasing hard for the jockeys' title this time, is the news that last year's joint-champion has dispensed with his private plane. Even with Spencer's earnings, the cost of flying around the country was just too great. When your accountant says you're "giving money away" it is time to act.

Channel 4's Alastair Down and the News Of The World are not the most obvious fit, but writing for the "Screws" has obviously worked wonders for their new racing columnist's prose style if his latest contribution, a Derby preview piece, is anything to go by. "Although the pubic [sic] trials have been run, plenty of clues have still to emerge," suggested Down.

Our own Jockeys' Association might have had something to say about the antics of Silvano Mulas, who won the Italian Derby earlier this month on Cima De Triomphe but cried off his booked rides at San Siro last Saturday to take part in the historic Palio at Fucecchio. Mulas won the race, which takes place in a former quarry known as "The Pit", but in an earlier heat badly injured his arm in a fall. With Cima De Triomphe being aimed at the Arc, Longchamp should be a cakewalk for Mulas, currently recovering from an operation on his arm.

Reports in the press that the Jockey Club is to mount a £350m bid with their Hong Kong counterparts for the Tote were described as "very speculative" by Club sources we spoke to yesterday.