THE RACING and betting industries will be scanning the skies over South Dublin for the next 48 hours ahead of the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes, but no one will be taking a closer interest than Duke Of Marmalade's trainer Aidan O'Brien.
An already eventful week for the champion trainer due to the British Horse Racing Authority's announcement of a 'team tactics' inquiry later this month took another twist yesterday when bookmakers suspended betting for a period in the Champion Stakes.
A rush of money on Duke Of Marmalade's big rival, New Approach, caused the favourite's odds to drift to 3 to 1 at one stage on Betfair as firms such as Paddy Power and Ladbrokes stopped betting on the race completely.
Concerns about ground conditions for Leopardstown on Saturday were believed to have prompted a lack of confidence in punters about Duke Of Marmalade with up to an inch of rain forecast for the Dublin area through tomorrow.
"We are being told 20mms could fall between dawn Friday morning and Saturday morning. But that's a longish period. We will have to wait and see but if we got all that I would imagine we might be looking at yielding ground," said Leopardstown's manager Tom Burke.
Compared to some earlier predictions that would not be too bad an outlook for Duke Of Marmalade who remains set to be declared at this morning's final stage.
"This is a good ground horse so we will have to see. There has been no change. I've said earlier in the week that the ground is a worry but at the moment the plan is to run," O'Brien said yesterday.
Ground conditions at Leopardstown yesterday were officially described as "good" but that could change as bookmakers acknowledged when re-opening betting on the Champion Stakes.
Duke Of Marmalade is currently a 4 to 5 favourite with Hills who have cut New Approach to 5 to 4. Their spokesman Tony Kenny said: "If the expected downpour comes then there could be a doubt about the participation of the Duke."
There are also going concerns for O'Brien surrounding Henrythenavigator's intended appearance in the Group One Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on Sunday.
Soft ground conditions would not suit the dual-Guineas winner and his trainer said: "We're being told there is a 3.3 reading over there at the moment which would be the slow side of good.
"We will declare him but we can also take him out on Friday if we need to."
Henrythenavigator's opposition in the Moulin may include the top-class fillies, Darjina, Goldikova and Natagora.
This weekend will be an especially busy one for O'Brien with four fillies possibly lining up in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday and also that afternoon four horses entered for the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock.
The champion trainer yesterday played a straight bat to questions about the BHA's enquiry into 'team tactics' in last month's Juddmonte International which will be held on the week beginning September 22nd.
"In view of the BHA deciding to hold an inquiry, I feel it would probably be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter at this time," he said.
One intended runner at Leopardstown this Saturday who won't be inconvenienced by any soft ground is Dermot Weld's French Derby runner-up Famous Name who is due to reappear in the Group Three Kilternan Stakes.
"He is coming back from a long layoff. I am pleased with his progress and I think he will run a very good race," Weld said.
Weld also added that his tough three-year-old Carribean Sunset will take her chance in the Group One Matron against Lush Lashes in a top quality field.
WILLIAM HILL BET IRISH CHAMPION STAKES:4-5 Duke Of Marmalade, 5-4 New Approach, 12-1 King Of Rome, 14-1 Multidimensional, 20-1 Mores Wells, 33-1 Lord Admiral, 66-1 bar.
