Fresh from his first French Classic success with Rose Gypsy, Aidan O'Brien's big-race focus is now turning to the Curragh in 12 days time where Minardi looks set to lead the Ballydoyle challenge for the Entenmann's Irish 2,000 Guineas.

Last season's European champion juvenile ran fourth to Golan at Newmarket and O'Brien said yesterday: "Minardi was unlucky at Newmarket but looked like a horse who gets a mile well and he is a possible for the Irish Guineas."

Rose Gypsy will bypass Sunday week's Irish 1,000 in favour of the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot but there is no shortage of Ballydoyle fillies to take her place.

"Toroca is a possible runner and so is Imagine. People should not forget Imagine was giving 5lb to Rose Gypsy in the Athasi Stakes and 8lb to Dermot Weld's filly (Cool Clarity), so she is still very much in the picture," O'Brien said.

The Curragh weekend's other Group One contest is the Tattersalls Gold Cup for which O'Brien is preparing Bach and the trainer also gave an upbeat bulletin yesterday on his Epsom Derby hope, Galileo, who emerged unscathed from his Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial success at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Killarney's three-day meeting winds up today and it could be a very successful afternoon for the ladies with Catch Ball being probably the most high profile horse on view.

The Willie Mullins-trained mare proved herself in the top bracket of staying hurdlers this year and although pulled up on her last start over flights, her 43 rating for the mile-and-a-half handicap looks very eyecatching.

Few trainers have had as good a start to the Flat season as Straffan-based Irene Oakes who has had three winners and five placings from just 15 runners so far. One of the winners was the Stakes prospect Frosty Wind and while Lucky Bet may not be in that class, the Gowran runner-up holds a clear chance in the mile handicap.

Apprentice Catherine Gannon has already had a winner this term - Cera Sifayra at Listowel - and will be hopeful of a sixth career success on the John Bowles-trained Zamnah in the claiming race.

Curragh-based James Burns can pick up a hurdles prize with Sister Clyde who ran a promising fourth to Klohho at Naas last week.