Racing News and previewDermot Weld has acknowledged that Vinnie Roe's preparation for tomorrow's Irish Field St Leger has not been straightforward but the Leger specialist remains favourite to complete a historic four-timer.
The Jim Sheridan-owned star stayer will face half a dozen British raiders who were among the 14 declared at yesterday's final forfeit stage.
They include Michael Stoute's First Charter who will be ridden by Kieren Fallon and the 30,000 supplementary entry Orange Touch but Vinnie Roe is still grimly hanging on to favouritism.
Paddy Power make him a 5 to 2 market leader with First Charter at 11 to 4 to provide a first Irish Leger for both Stoute and Fallon.
Vinnie Roe has been beaten in both starts this season, including when going down to Foreign Affairs in the Ballyroan Stakes last month, and missed out on the Ascot Gold Cup due to fast ground in the summer.
Weld said yesterday: "His preparation has probably not been ideal and groundwise every drop of rain will be appreciated. But he is well and we just hope he can do it again."
The Curragh trainer will also let the 2002 Melbourne Cup hero Media Puzzle take his chance in the Leger and said that a return to Australia remains a possibility if everything goes well tomorrow.
The going on the round course at the Curragh is expected to remain good despite a forecast of up to 10mms of rain falling on the track overnight.
John Oxx has won the Leger twice before with Eurobird (1987) and Petite Ile (1989) and this time will be represented by Cruzspiel while Aidan O'Brien will be represented by Brian Boru as well as the only three-year-olds, Two Miles West and Napoleon.
O'Brien's father-in-law Joe Crowley will run Blue Corrig while Chimes At Midnight completes the home team.
There is some less than classic material running at Downpatrick this afternoon but Weld and jockey Pat Smullen will be involved in the 11 furlong handicap with Caroca who is 9lb higher for a Clonmel defeat of Or D'ans.
Weld also has the 99 rated Time To Roam in the opening maiden hurdle but another horse rated 99, Ocras Mor, looks the one to be on following a fourth to Star Horse at Down Royal on Sunday.
Baikal's first run in a handicap resulted in him finding only Rodybolands too good for him at Sligo last month. He gets over a stone from the topweight Carapuncha who won on Sunday at Down Royal and that can swing things Baikal's way.
Catherine Gannon rides for Pat Hughes today and maybe Luckalocka can strike in the first division of the flat handicap on form showed behind Bessina at Sligo.
