JOHNNY MURTAGH is on board the Aidan O'Brien-trained Peter Tchaikovsky in today's Leopardstown featured Group Three Killavullan Stakes, a race that has been won by the subsequent classic winners Footstepsinthesand (2004) and Grey Swallow (2003)
Ballydoyle have two runners today, but so does John Oxx, and the Curragh trainer's pair look better with Michael Kinane's choice of Vitruvian Man looking to be significant.
The Montjeu colt won well on his second start at the Curragh, but his stable companion Rayeni won his Naas debut by five lengths, so Vitruvian Man must have continued to impress in his homework.
A big danger may be Jim Bolger's filly Forest Storm, who ran into a Group One performer in Dreamtheimpossible on her last start.
O'Brien has won the seven furlong colt juvenile maiden in nine of the last 10 years and pitches four into the race this time. Murtagh's choice of the Sadler's Wells newcomer Crowfoot has to be respected.
Pat Smullen, who secured his first Breeders' Cup success on Saturday night, is also back for today's action where his big ride looks to be Famous Name in the Listed Trigo Stakes.
Considering he was an unlucky runner-up in the French Derby, the second half of Famous Name's three-year-old campaign has been disappointing but this looks a good opportunity.
