RACING NEWS:BLACK BEAR Island will have his final start for Aidan O'Brien in Chicago tonight, but the champion trainer is hopeful the Dante winner can go out with a bang before continuing his racing career in the US.
The colt is among a possible field of just nine runners for the €350,000 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park, a Grade One prize O'Brien won nine years ago with Ciro and finished runner-up last year when Plan was second to Dermot Weld's Winchester.
Weld will also be in Grade One action on tonight's Arlington Million card when Mad About You lines out against seven opponents in the €530,000 Beverly D Stakes.
In the million dollar centrepiece itself, Luca Cumani's Cima de Triomphe leads the three-strong European challenge which includes Walter Swinburn's Stotsfold and the Pascal Bary-trained Gloria de Campeao.
However, Irish eyes will be on two other top-flight contests, and Black Bear Island is a morning line 4 to 1 shot with local odds-makers to make Johnny Murtagh's transatlantic trip worthwhile.
Black Bear Island failed to fire in the Grand Prix de Paris at Longhcamp on his last start, but O'Brien said: "He has plenty of pace and it looks like a mile-and-a-quarter is his best trip.
"He also likes an even gallop and a flat track. His best performance came at York, which is flat."
The full brother to High Chaparral has been bought by new American owners and will remain in America, where he will reportedly be trained by Julio Canani.
Like O'Brien, Weld has had considerable success at Arlington through the years, but Mad About You faces a tough task in the Beverly D against a trio of American Grade One-winners which includes Pure Clan and Black Mamba.
Pat Smullen has also travelled to Chicago to ride the Moyglare Stud-owned filly who is a Group Three-winner at the Curragh this year. Like Black Bear Island, Mad About You will be a first-time runner on lasix.
The Secretariat is due off at 9.05pm Irish time tonight, with the Beverly at 9.52 and the Million at 10.42.
Ruby Walsh has already notched up 19 winners this jumps season, boasting an almost 25 per cent strike rate into the bargain, and he can continue that good form at Kilbeggan this evening where Themoonandsixpence will be hard to beat in the conditions hurdle.
The Willie Mullins-trained horse comes here in form, having won at Killarney last time.
And Walsh will also fancy his chances in the Beginners Chase aboard Dream Champion.
Walsh is on the course bumper-winner Huckle Buck Shoe in the opening maiden hurdle, and while the Mullins runner is sure to be fancied, the experience Dusty Trail picked up over flights at Bellewstown could be decisive.
