Fairyhouse preview: Relaxed Gesture is a probable starter in Sunday's Italian Derby as the Irish look to make their mark on the Continent this weekend.
Dermot Weld's colt, runner-up to the Epsom Derby favourite Yeats at Leopardstown on his only start of the season, will try and boost that form with a trip to Rome.
"There is no hurry and we will leave a final decision until Friday but I would say it is probable he will go to Italy," said Weld last night.
Montayral is on schedule to head a strong Irish challenge at Auteuil on Sunday in the prestigious Grand Steeplechase de Paris.
The Pat Hughes-trained horse, third in the Betfred Gold Cup in his last start, will not be alone at the Paris track as Willie Mullins has left in three entries in the Prix la Barka on the same card.
Mullins used the race as a warm-up for Nobody Told Me last year before that mare went on to win the French Champion Hurdle and this time round he has left in the trio of Sadlers Wings, Joueur D'Estruval and the SunAlliance Chase winner Rule Supreme.
One horse that bookmakers will be paying particular attention to at Fairyhouse this evening will be Nayodabayo who tries for a quick cross-code double in the mile and a half handicap.
The Weld-trained horse won his maiden hurdle by a head from Gold Blended at Punchestown last Friday and on the same quick ground should be able to score again for his owner, the legendary English punter Terry Ramsden.
Weld can also land the mile and a half fillies maiden with Rich Sense who should relish the hike in trip from her Naas debut when seventh to Queen Of Palms.
Another man who can double up is Michael Kinane as he tries to further narrow the gap with Jamie Spencer in the jockeys' table.
Joanna Morgan's Value Plus found Russian Blue too good first time out and then ran into the well-fancied Democratic Deficit at Leopardstown. Value Plus can eclipse the winners, Nepro and Itsonlywoody over six furlongs this evening.
Kinane was third on Civic Duty in that one's last start at Tipperary behind Acorn Lodge but looks worth another shot in the first division of the seven furlong handicap.
