Muakaad gets stall draw in a million

Pat Smullen and Dermot Weld are in Chicago for Muakaad's attempt on tonight's Arlington Million but face a hectic dash back home…

Pat Smullen and Dermot Weld are in Chicago for Muakaad's attempt on tonight's Arlington Million but face a hectic dash back home for three Group races at the Curragh tomorrow.

Muakaad has been handed an ideal stall five for the mile and a quarter race where he takes on the cream of America's turf horses such as Bienamando and Hap.

Nevertheless, his chance is rated at 20 to 1 and better by the local odds layers, despite Weld's remarkable record in the US in general and Arlington in particular, where he trained Pine Dance to win the American Derby last year.

The Million, along with two other Grade 1 races, the Secretariat and the Beverly D Stakes, will be available live on Sky Digital.

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The rush back should pay off for the partnership as the Galway winner Saranac Lake is proven on a yielding surface and has the experience from the festival to cope with a three-strong challenge from Ballydoyle as well as the course winners Sweet Deimos and Specious in the Debutante Stakes.

The ground, which is forecast to be yielding to soft on the straight course, is worrying Aidan O'Brien as he prepares Bach for what would be a first Group success in the Royal Whip Stakes.

The Ballydoyle trainer isn't ruling out a double up for Bach as he also holds an entry in Tuesday's Juddmonte International at York but tomorrow's race looks an ideal chance to add to three Listed wins and two Group 1 placings.

O'Brien has two in the Desmond Stakes, headed by the double course and distance winner Hawkeye, but the ratings say Siringas is the best of these.

Clanboyo's winning two from two record over six furlongs makes attractive reading for the Summertime Handicap. Owen Weldon's charge is drawn high in 27 but there is a lot of speed in the boxes alongside and Clanboyo looks a value bet.

Dibiya ran out an easy eight length winner over a weak field on her debut at Galway. That looked far from the limit of her potential.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column