American Derby, preview: Golden Arrow will attempt to become the latest Dermot Weld- trained horse to make his mark in the US when he runs in tonight's $250,000 American Derby at Arlington Park in Chicago.
Weld has already won the valuable Grade Two prize on three occasions, with Pine Dance, Evolving Tactics and Simple Exchange, and champion jockey Pat Smullen will again take the mount on Golden Arrow who has been drawn in stall one of the 14 runners.
Golden Arrow boasts a Group One runner-up placing behind George Washington in last year's National Stakes at the Curragh and ran fifth to Araafa in the Irish 2,000 Guineas in May.
Pitched against him tonight will be the likely favourite Stream Cat from Patrick Biancone's stable as well as last year's Anglesey Stakes winner Amigoni who is now trained in Maryland.
There will be home action before that, however, at Tipperary where just seven horses line up for the tote.ie Galway Plate Trial. Bothar Na was one of the leading hunter chasers in the country during the winter but looked as if three miles in testing conditions was beyond his best. This two and a half miles on a quick surface should be ideal.
Almier has just the second start over fences of his career in the last and on the ratings has something to find with Kahuna. However, the latter has been largely disappointing and Almier looks good to add to a Downpatrick novice success last September.
Cat On The Luas scored at Leopardstown on Wednesday night and drops further back in trip for the nine-furlong handicap this evening. Neither that or a 5lb penalty should stop her recording a quick hat-trick.
Darc Leader's chase debut at Killarney on Wednesday yielded a fifth that could be improved upon in the Beginners' Chase.