Time away was yesterday described as a "probable runner" to fill in John Dunlop's classic blank in the Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks. Dunlop has won every other Irish classic race at least once, but while enduring frustration in the Oaks up to now, Time Away has been made 4 to 1 joint favourite with Cashmans for Sunday's big race.
A spokesman for the Dunlop yard said yesterday: "Time Away is a probable runner. We probably wouldn't want the ground to be too fast or too easy, but Pat Eddery will ride."
Eddery has won the Oaks three times, on Colorspin (1986), Wemyss Bight (1993) and Bolas (1994). Time Away, who won the Musidora from Relish The Thought, comes to the Curragh on the back of a third in the French Oaks.
The ground at the Curragh was yesterday described as good to firm, with good going in the straight. The track manager Jason Morris said: "The wind is blowing now after some showers and while the forecast is for unsettled weather, they are not predicting huge amounts of rain."
Aidan O'Brien reported he will "run a few" in the Oaks but will continue to wait before formulating his final team; and Dermot Weld is also adopting a patient policy with his maiden Ballerine before deciding if she will run.
O'Brien added that the Sussex Stakes possible King Charlemagne will run in either the Group Two or the Group Three contest at the Curragh over the weekend, and a final decision on whether Galileo will take his chance in the King George in 16 days' time could be closer after the colt canters this morning.
Galileo and Sheikh Mohammed's Fantastic Light were among 26 horses left in the Ascot race at yesterday's latest acceptance stage for the mile-anda-half contest.
Golan, beaten into second and third behind Galileo at Epsom and the Curragh, could meet him once again.
Henry Cecil relies on Lear Spear, and Barry Hills has left in Storming Home, who also impressed when winning at the Royal meeting.
James Fanshawe's Grandera, who finished an unlucky third in the French Derby and was just caught by Medicean in the Eclipse Stakes, is also in. Grandera's Chantilly conqueror Anabaa Blue and Dubai World Cup third Hightori are the French representatives in the £750,000 event.
At Newmarket today, O'Brien runs four in the Darley July Cup, with Mick Kinane aboard Mozart, who will be dropping back a furlong in distance after his highly impressive all-the-way win in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The action is at Dundalk this evening, where punters can get off to a good start in the maiden hurdle with Dajazar, who makes the journey from Philip Rothwell's Co Wicklow yard. This one ran a reasonable third to Didntearyea and Dr Oscar in a bumper at Sligo last time and could edge out the Down Royal fourth, Galway Breeze.
Michael Halford has a good record at the Co Louth track and can confirm that with the treble-seeking Ask The Moon in the handicap hurdle and Distant Guest in the seven-furlong handicap.
Pasteur, a length second to Silver Risks at Roscommon, brings an 83 mark into the mile and a half maiden, which should give him something in hand; and Kilbride King can justify the long trip from Co Waterford for John Kiely and Tom Queally in the apprentice handicap.
