Ernest & Diamond set to lock horns again

Royal Diamond last year's Irish St Leger hero, bids to confirm his place in next month's Curragh Classic when he lines up at the Co Kildare track this afternoon.

Johnny Murtagh 's charge faces just four rivals in the Gain Irish St Leger Trial, but they include the Aidan O'Brien-trained Ernest Hemingway who defeated him for a second time this season in the Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.

However, O'Brien warned Ernest Hemingway might not even run if the ground continues to deteriorate.

He told www.coolmore.com: "Ernest Hemingway is in good form but he is a horse who needs good or faster ground, so we don't want any more rain.

"If the ground turns slow we will have to think about whether he will take his place in the line-up."

Before that run, Royal Diamond had won at Foxrock by three and three-quarter lengths from Sir Ector

The latter is trained in Co Armagh by Jimmy Lambe, who would love to map out an adventurous plan for the six-year-old.

"In reality, Royal Diamond got a freebie at Leopardstown when he was almost 20 lengths clear so to get within four lengths of him was a good run even if he was easing down," said Lambe.

"It's a very competitive affair and he's got to improve a bit, but my horse has won an Ulster Derby and was third in Her Majesty's Plate (at Down Royal). He has a good pedigree and is a good servant to the yard.

"If he wins the owners might supplement him for the (Irish) Leger, but his target on the Flat is the Prix du Cadran over two and a half miles on Arc day and he might go back over hurdles depending on the ground."

Dermot Weld has decided to let Voleuse De Coeurs strut her stuff but she has plenty to find after finishing third behind Ernest Hemingway and Royal Diamond in the Curragh Cup at the end of June.

"Voleuse De Coeurs will take her chance in the Group Three, but it looks a good field," said the local trainer.

The line-up is completed by the Monica Dowdall-Blake trained Shu Lewis

She finished a respectable seventh in last year's Irish St Leger, and she was second in Her Majesty's Plate at Down Royal on her last start, a head in front of Sir Ector.