Racing: André Fabre has long been known as the Napoleon of French racing, and in Hurricane Run he looks to have the perfect material for an imperious rout in tomorrow's Budweiser Irish Derby.
A final field of nine has been declared, and, while the Epsom hero Motivator is absent, Hurricane Run looks to have it in him to banish any lingering suspicions that the 2005 version of Ireland's premier Classic might be a less than vintage renewal.
John Magnier certainly seems to think so, having last weekend splashed out to bring the son of Coolmore's latest stallion sensation, Montjeu, under the Tipperary stud's wing. The number of zeroes in the price are likely to leave most of us boggle-eyed, but Hurricane Run's potential would probably have the same effect.
Just four starts have yielded three wins and a narrow defeat in the French Derby that probably owed more to the decision to reduce the race trip to a mile and a quarter than to Shamardal's admittedly gutsy performance.
Beforehand, Fabre had been at his Napoleonic best when making comparisons with his former great Arc winner Peintre Celebre, and yesterday at Chantilly it was almost possible to hear him haughtily tuck an arm into his jacket.
"He is a horse I like and he will improve, but what is more important is that the distance and the course will suit him better," he declared, before declining to comment on the opposition.
"I only worry about my horses, but I know my friend John Hammond has a good horse."
In fact Hammond looks to provide the main danger in the shape of the Epsom runner-up Walk In The Park. Hammond's links to Ireland include a spell at Trinity College as well as training Montjeu to win the 1999 Derby and Suave Dancer to be runner-up in 1991.
Walk In The Park is another son of Montjeu and he proved the doubters wrong with a fine run behind Motivator despite sweating up freely beforehand.
In fact there are so many echoes of Montjeu and 1999 going into tomorrow's race that maybe the great horse might take the trip up from Fethard for the day out.
Just like Hurricane Run, Montjeu came to the Curragh from the French Derby with doubts about his ability to run straight. But ultimately he was magnificent in beating the Epsom runner-up Daliapour by five lengths.
Hurricane Run also ran about under pressure earlier this month, but that was probably more to do with inexperience than anything inherent, and maybe a more potent threat could come from the likely quick ground - he has raced only on a good surface.
Significantly though, Fabre was not particularly concerned yesterday, and apart from that, and Walk In The Park, other possible glitches don't look particularly plentiful.
The decision to move Kieren Fallon to Hurricane Run doesn't say much for the chances of Gypsy King and Scorpion, while the ground will almost certainly not suit Fracas.
It's 12 years since the last British winner of the race and there is nothing in the profile of either Bahar Shumaal or Brahminy Kite to suggest that will change, but maybe Helvetio could run into a place at a big price. As for a winner, however, there doesn't appear to be any need to look beyond Hurricane Run.
Aidan O'Brien is aiming for a remarkable eighth success in the Group Two Railway Stakes, and of his pair of runners tomorrow, the course and distance winner George Washington looks much the best option.
The Listed sprint and the Scurrys could be set for export via Majestic Missile and Plateau respectively, while Lord Admiral will be hard to beat in the Celebration Stakes if in the same sort of form as when winning at Leopardstown last time.
