O'Brien waits on fitness reports

RACING: Rock of Gibraltar has a trio of possible comeback races as the Ballydoyle classic crop continue to recover from the …

RACING: Rock of Gibraltar has a trio of possible comeback races as the Ballydoyle classic crop continue to recover from the coughing bug that has swept through the yard.

The Irish Champion Stakes, the Haydock Sprint Cup and the Prix du Moulin are the three Group One races in Europe over the weekend after next.

Remarkably Rock Of Gibraltar, already winner of a record six Group One's in a row, could run in any of the three which range from six furlongs to a mile and a quarter.

"He can run in any of them. I don't think it would be a bother to him. A lot will probably depend on which of the others, if any, are ready for a run," said Aidan O'Brien yesterday.

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The "others" are High Chaparral and Hawk Wing who along with Rock Of Gibraltar are the Ballydoyle contenders for the Champion Stakes.

"They are back in light exercise and I hope one of them will be back for the Champion Stakes. We hope something will be ready to start back by then.

Obviously the next week will tell a lot," O'Brien added. The cough is now mostly affecting the juveniles at Ballydoyle which puts Kevin Prendergast in an even stronger position with his own strong team of two-year-olds.

The Curragh trainer looks to dominate the maiden today which kicks off the six-day Tralee festival.

Friday's Guinness Gold Cup highlights the meeting and tomorrow's Ruby Stakes brings some black type Listed action to the Kerry track.

This afternoon's opener is a puzzle, however, with Prendergast set to saddle both Jakarta Jade and Alexander Anapolis.

Declan McDonogh has elected to ride Jakarta Jade who ran second on her Leopardstown debut after a slow start.

However, Pat Cosgrave takes a valuable allowance off the other Prendergast contender whose form behind Walayef, was boosted by Hanabad last week.

The opening day feature is the Patsy Byrne Handicap Hurdle where Norman Williamson rides the Galway Hurdle fourth Touch Of Love. Returning from a serious injury picked up at the Punchestown festival, Williamson should have a good ride here on the O'Grady runner who has had a recent run on the Curragh.

Bob What was very unlucky at Tramore last time but the rise in the weights hasn't helped his chance so a value option could be Best Wait from the in-form Tom Hogan yard.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

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