Racing News: Aidan O'Brien's focus will be on Hawk Wing in today's Group One Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes but the Ballydoyle trainer has an important date with Turf Club officials to look forward to early next week.
The Turf Club wrote to O'Brien on Wednesday requesting a meeting to explain the controversial comments made by him regarding the running of Brian Boru last weekend.
The organisation's chief executive Denis Egan confirmed yesterday: "It looks like we will meet early next week or as soon as Aidan replies to our letter. Once that is done we will try and deal with the matter as quickly as possible."
At a press day earlier in the week O'Brien's comments about not wanting Brian Boru to have too hard a race ahead of the Epsom Derby were highlighted.
The focus of the weekend for many other race fans will be on Newbury too as the home product isn't exactly the most scintillating.
O'Brien's classy Hawk Wing let his supporters down on several occasions last season. He was sent off favourite on five of his six starts but only obliged once at 8 to 15, albeit in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes, so he owes his followers a few favours.
Hawk Wing can repay them with interest today. This powerfully built son of Woodman has the scope to do well as a four-year-old and after his high-profile defeats in races like the Sagitta 2,000 Guineas, Vodafone Derby and Irish Champion Stakes he could go off at a relatively generous price at Newbury.
However, he will not have matters all his own way with Rock Of Gibraltar's conqueror Domedriver and Where Or When, who beat Hawk Wing in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, in the line-up for the £200,000 contest. But after a workout at the Curragh earlier this season Hawk Wing was reported to be "sizzling" by his rider.
Downpatrick has today to itself while Navan and Clonmel share the limelight tomorrow. John Murtagh will be in action at the Co Tipperary track but Pat Smullen will be in Milan to ride Miss Nashwan. Downpatrick hosts a mixed card and, while the mile-and-a-half maiden may not be a fantastic contest, there will be plenty willing to bank on Michael Grassick training Gemini Diamond to success.
The three-year-old is rated 77 but Grassick's string have been on fire in the last couple of weeks and the Curragh trainer had six flat winners notched up already up to last night.
The other betting option at the northern track could be in the opener where Strong Run, sixth to Minte Vista in a bumper recently, runs for Noel Meade and Paul Carberry.
Florida Coast will fly the Limestone Lad colours in the conditions hurdle at Navan tomorrow and the James Bowe-owned and trained horse brings a formidable 130 rating to the race.
Golden Row returns from the long lay-off to run for Edward O'Grady in the beginners chase and the classy sort should be up to overcoming the absence of a recent race.
Any further rain would aid the hopes of the Michael Halford-trained Monks Error who had a first run since September in a hurdle race at Tipperary. Barry Geraghty looks a significant booking for the decent stayer in the three-mile handicap chase.
