There's no doubt which horse will be the focus of attention at the Curragh tomorrow. King Of Kings, currently as low as 6 to 1 joint favourite for next year's 2,000 Guineas, makes his first venture into Group 1 company in the £200,000 Aga Khan Studs National Stakes and while the defection of the top English juvenile Central Park takes from the race, it will still be of immense interest to see how Aidan O'Brien's charismatic youngster performs.
Central Park was withdrawn after his blood count was found to be down and his trainer Paul Cole said: "We've decided to be prudent and not run. He will probably be re-routed to the Dewhurst Stakes."
That would seem to leave the way open for King Of Kings to win the mile contest but anyone who has followed his career will hardly be taking too short a price. His tendancy to drift and his high head carraige when asked to quicken may be put down to inexperience or it may be something more ominous but we should know after this.
Nevertheless it's hard to oppose King Of Kings. Cole will now be represented by the Catterick and Kempton winner Mowbray while Sir Mark Prescott sends over Mountain River who has won at Thirsk and Salisbury. Both are decent colts in their class but nobody is thinking of them as potential Guineas winners so it will be disapointing if the pot is exported.
Of the other home horses, King Of Kings will have to deal with is his battle hardened stablemate Saratoga Springs, third to the other Guineas favourite Daggers Drawn at Doncaster last week, and John Oxx's Natalis, both decent animals. However, King Of Kings will have to win and possibly even more importantly do so in a pleasing style to justify his huge reputation.
Aidan O'Brien and Christy Roche could also be on the mark in the opening juvenile maiden with Shahtoush who ran a fine race for a filly having only her second run when third to Tarascon in the Moyglare Stud Stakes. On that effort she should be well up to winning this maiden despite the furlong back in trip.
Another trainer-jockey combination who can leave the Curragh on the double is that of Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning. Via Verbano has been a notably consistent filly all season and can reverse Leopardstown form with Mr Lightfoot from last Saturday in the Listed Solonaway Race. The Cambridgeshire winner Quws will also be a tough nut to crack but Via Verbano is just preferred.
Prevalence made his debut at Leopardstown last Saturday when only just beaten by Hermitage Bay. One of the newcomers in the Pollardstown Maiden may be out of the ordinary but they will find a worthy opponent in Prevalence.
Bolger indeed may also take the Carroll's Ladies Race with Back Log whose second to Darrouzett here last time now looks pretty smart considering that filly's subsequent good win at Gowran last Thursday. Angela Crowley is a competant partner and Back Log is selected to beat Shona McDonagh's ride Delerious Moment.
