News and previews: The Group Three Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown used to be a regular pit-stop for some of Dermot Weld's star stayers such as Vinnie Roe and Media Puzzle and Prince Erik can successfully continue the tradition tomorrow.
In contrast to the days when there was uncertainty about Vinnie Roe handling fast ground, the accent will be very much on stamina this time as the yielding to soft conditions that prevailed at Leopardstown yesterday are likely to get softer.
"I would think we are looking at soft ground," admitted the course manager Tom Burke yesterday. "We are expecting between 10 to 12mms of rain between now and Saturday afternoon. But there should be lots of dry weather on Sunday itself."
Those conditions will not be a problem to Prince Erik who broke his maiden here in May before being pitched in at the deep end in the Irish Derby when finishing 15 lengths behind Soldier Of Fortune.
Since that horse memorably won by nine, Weld's grey was not that far behind some decent operators and there is little doubt that Prince Erik is the unexposed runner now with the most potential to improve.
As it is, a 106 rating puts him right into the mix and he gets almost a stone from the five-year-old Fracas who has been winning and running well over 10 furlongs this season.
Arch Rebel is a four-time course winner but is another that looks best at the shorter trip while Nick's Nikita might just lack a little class for this company.
The prospect of soft ground won't be music to the ears of Kevin Prendergast ahead of the Desmond Stakes but at least it won't be the heavy ground that Haatef overcame on his last start at Fairyhouse when winning over six furlongs.
Sheikh Hamdan's Danzig colt is gradually rising through the grades after an unplaced effort in the 2,000 Guineas and his 116 rating gives him the clear winning of tomorrow's other Group Three event.
The Listed Hurry Harriet Stakes has been transferred from Wednesday's Gowran card to here and that move can pay off in spades for Timarwa.
John Oxx's team have always had a high opinion of the Aga Khan-owned filly who was outdone by testing conditions when fourth in both the Irish Oaks and the Pretty Polly Stakes.
There is no Peeping Fawn to cope with this weekend and there will be widespread disappointment if Timarwa doesn't secure some winning black type ahead of a return to top-flight company later in the season.
The seven-furlong colts juvenile maiden is almost a re-run of the maiden won by Lucifer Sam at Galway and although Chun Tosaigh is likely to be a more potent threat now, and Houston Dynimo has only a length to make up, the Galway runner-up Domestic Fund can make it third time lucky.
The Tramore August festival winds up tomorrow and Dr Swanini looks the one most likely to send punters home smiling by landing the amateur riders maiden hurdle.
Race meetings across Japan scheduled for this weekend were called off yesterday for the first time in 36 years after equine influenza was detected in more than 20 horses.
