PLAN HAS to overcome form figures, official ratings and also older horses if he is to win today's Curragh Group Three feature, but Aidan O'Brien's regally-bred colt could be progressive enough to do just that.

The three-year-old son of Storm Cat and the Breeders' Cup winner Spain has run just twice this year, opening up with an honourable eighth in the Newmarket Guineas but only returning to action a fortnight ago here at the Derby meeting.

Plan was the Ballydoyle second string in the Celebration Stakes over a mile, but ran on noticeably well from the rear to finish fourth, almost five lengths behind the winner, Lisvale, who he meets again today in the Keeneland International Stakes.

Lisvale is rated a full 10lb clear of Plan and the pair of them represent the Classic generation against five older horses that include the course Group winners Regime and Mustameet.

Strictly on form, Lisvale looks the better of the three-year-olds, but Plan should improve significantly for his comeback run and also looks like he will be suited by an extra furlong.

During the week he was mentioned as a possible for the John Smith's Cup at York but never looked likely to get in. However, it could be more significant that he also held an entry for tomorrow's Group One Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly, until O'Brien elected to stay at home instead.

The Celebration Stakes may also be crucial to the outcome of the day's other Group Three pot, the Minstrel Stakes, as Jumbajukiba, who finished runner-up to Lisvale, can go one better now. Fran Berry set a spanking pace a fortnight ago over a mile, which suggests Jessica Harrington's five-year-old will have no trouble with today's trip.

Aidan O'Brien gives the 106-rated New Zealand a first start of 2008 in the mile-and-a-quarter maiden. The colt was just out of the placings in a 10-furlong Group One at Saint-Cloud last November, and while eventually he may want a lot further, New Zealand should still be capable of breaking his maiden in a race like this.

Racing on the all-weather gets back into action at Dundalk this afternoon, and a number of Ballydoyle runners will be present, including last year's Gimcrack runner-up Great Barrier Reef, who disappointed after York but still appears to be head and shoulders over this opposition.