AIDAN O'BRIEN famously used this evening's six-furlong juvenile maiden at Naas to unveil Giant's Causeway in 1999, but the champion trainer may have to play second fiddle this time behind Douze Points.
The impeccably bred Born To Be King is the Ballydoyle runner, but he has a lot of ground to make up on Douze Points from Curragh running behind Westphalia last month.
Douze Points started 25 to 1 that day but he really shook up the favourite and can make it third time lucky under the in-form Chris Hayes, who rides him for the first time.
O'Brien has a ratings good thing in the first in Great Barrier Reef, but last year's Gimcrack runner-up has proved hugely expensive to follow. Astonish isn't in the same league on figures, but she was well backed on her last trip here only to get turned over by a stable companion. With that experience under her belt she could prey on any weakness in the likely favourite.
Gan Amhras should come on significantly for a promising debut at Leopardstown in the mile maiden, while stable companion Ard Fheis should relish the drop back in trip to the mile conditions race.
Excelerate's 107 rating is a stand out in this, but he may be best at a shorter trip.
