Kevin Prendergast was yesterday "very hopeful" that Oscar Schindler will repeat last year's victory in the Jefferson Smurfit Memorial Irish St Leger. The trainer has been very happy with the five-year-old since his third in the Royal Whip Stakes last month and his hopes of landing this country's final Classic are rising as the going at the Curragh eases. "Oscar Schindler couldn't be better and is firmly on course for the race," Prendergast said. "He ran a good race over a mile and a quarter last time out, finishing well and hopefully the ground is coming right for him as it is raining today.
"Stephen Craine will ride him again and I am very hopeful he can win again."
Last year's Gold Cup winner Classic Cliche headed six British acceptors for the mile-and-three-quarter race yesterday.
The sextet will be bidding for a first success for Britain in an Irish Classic since Matiya took the 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh in May, 1996.
Michael Stoute has left in Clerkenwell and Whitewater Affair while Kutta (trained by Robert Armstrong) and Persian Punch (David Elsworth) were also declared.
The race has been open to older horses since 1984 and no three-year-old has won since 1989. Sole members of the Classic generation among yesterday's acceptors were home-trained trio Buddy Marvel, Stage Affair and Family Tradition.
A total of 75 two-year-olds stood their ground yesterday for Sunday's Group One Aga Khan Studs National Stakes at the Curragh, including leading 2,000 Guineas hopes Central Park, King Of Kings and Second Empire.
Jefferson Smurfit Memorial Irish St Leger acceptors: Classic Cliche (trained by S bin Suroor), Clerkenwell (M Stoute), Kutta (R Armstrong), Oscar Schindler (K Prendergast), Persian Punch (D Elsworth), Samraan (J Dunlop), Whitewater Affair (M Stoute), Buddy Marvel (J McLoughlin), Stage Affair (D K Weld), Family Tradition (A P O'Brien).
Meanwhile, Aidan O'Brien's Desert King was given a 25 to 1 quote by William Hill for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The Ballydoyle trainer has three entries, Harbour Master, Karakorum and Marigot Bay, in Saturday's Group One Prix de la Salamandre at Lonchamp.
Coral's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting: 7-2 Helissio, Peintre Celebre, Pilsudski, 5-1 Swain, 10-1 My Emma, 14-1 Vereva, 20-1 Ebadiyla, 25-1 bar
William Hill: 3-1 Peintre Celebre, 7-2 Helissio, 4-1 Pilsudski, 7-1 Swain, 10-1 My Emma, 16-1 Vereva, 25-1 Astarabad, Classic Cliche, Darazari, Desert King, Oscar Schindler, 33-1 bar.
