Ballinrobe Preview: The star older horses Dylan Thomas and Scorpion look likely to fly the Ballydoyle flag in Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot after Aidan O'Brien reported yesterday that his Irish Derby hero Soldier Of Fortune will miss the midsummer all-aged feature.
The prospect of soft ground had encouraged speculation that Soldier Of Fortune might take the place of the current odds-on ante-post favourite Dylan Thomas, but that has been knocked on the head by the champion trainer.
"Soldier Of Fortune is on a short break and when he comes back we will be looking at races like the Leger and the Arc for him," O'Brien said.
"It looks like the two older horses will run on Saturday. I know Dylan Thomas doesn't appear to like soft ground, but, unless it gets very testing, the plan is to run," he added.
Other Irish Group One interest this weekend will centre on the superstar filly Finsceal Beo, who has Deauville's Prix D'Astarte in her sights on Sunday.
The English and Irish 1,000 Guineas winner is set to have a third clash with her French Guineas conqueror Darjina in the mile event, and the German Guineas heroine Mi Emma is also likely to take her chance, possibly alongside the Falmouth Stakes winner Simply Perfect.
The trio of Finsceal Beo, Darjina and Mi Emma clashed in last month's Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot where soft ground was blamed by all connections for finishing well behind Indian Ink.
O'Brien could also be in action in France on Saturday, as Eagle Mountain is one of four Ballydoyle entries in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam at Maisons-Laffitte. The other Ballydoyle possibles are Sorolla, Admiralofthefleet and Yellowstone.
Togher Castle has a nightmare draw in stall one of the nine-furlong handicap at Ballinrobe this evening, but two runs at Killarney indicate the five-time winner is running into form and the veteran could overcome the obstacle.
Pesante ran an okay race behind High Diving at Killarney and returns to Ballinrobe for the apprentice handicap, where he won last year, off just a 2lb lower mark.
