RACING WEEKEND PREVIEW:IRISH INTEREST today is set to stretch from snowy Yorkshire to sun-drenched Los Angeles, where Pat Smullen and Dermot Weld are in Grade One action tonight with Winchester.
But a different outlook faces Sublimity and two other Irish-trained hopes in this afternoon's Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Wetherby.
Half the course was covered in snow yesterday morning and there will be an 8 am inspection.
Sublimity's trainer, Robbie Hennessy, will be hoping for better fortune than last week when bad weather at Newcastle meant the 2007 Champion Hurdle winner travelled for nothing.
In contrast, Winchester is enjoying himself at Hollywood Park where he lines up for the €200,000 Hollywood Turf Cup.
No three-year-old has won this mile-and-a-half race in 16 years, but Weld is hopeful Winchester can add to a splendid track record that includes a Matriarch Stakes win for Dress To Thrill (2004), an American Oaks success for Dimitrova in 2003 and a Grade Two victory in 2006 for Grey Swallow.
"I think he looks better than before the Breeders' Cup," Weld said at the track. "He has enjoyed his time here. The weather has been good and he has begun to blossom in the last week to 10 days."
Smullen added: "He is improving and with the experience of the Breeders' Cup will be a better horse on Saturday."
Today's home action at Navan kicks off with the belated jumping debut of Zaaritoin the maiden hurdle. Colm Murphy's bumper star was taken out of a race at Fairyhouse on Wednesday due to the ground, but anything but victory for the Supreme Hurdle hope will be a surprise.
Made In Taipanis a smart customer going left-handed and conditions look good for him to win the novice chase, while Well Run is taken to beat the topweight Chelsea Harbour in the three-mile chase.
A New Storyis a tricky ride, but has been in good form and has an attractive weight in the Proudstown Handicap Hurdle.
