Aidan O'Brien can warm up for an attempt at a second Budweiser Irish Derby success by taking this evening's Leopardstown feature, the Silver Flash Stakes.
The Ballydoyle trainer runs three in the six-furlong Listed event, just one less than the number of horses he has left in the Derby in a bid to emulate Desert King's classic victory of 1997.
Michael Kinane has chosen to ride Dream today, and on breeding it's not difficult to see why, as she is by the champion sire Sadler's Wells out of the Cheveley Park winner Embla.
Indeed it's rather unusual to see a Sadler's Wells horse take part in a black type event quite so early in the season. Dream is clearly forward and clearly smart if O'Brien has chosen to give her a debut in a Listed race.
Of those with experience Eddie Lynam's Millenium Love looked a smart, if a trifle hot, filly when beating Alexander Express by a short head at the Curragh, while Ventura was seven lengths off Darwin on her debut.
The lightweight Ponda Rosa can provide Mallow-born apprentice Tadhg O'Shea (18) with a fourth career victory in the sixfurlong apprentice handicap which starts proceedings at 6.45. Ponda Rosa ran an encouraging race last time when runner up to Akebono over five at Tipperary.
The nap, however, goes to another Sadler's Wells horse, Among Equals, in the mile and a half maiden. Placed in his two starts to date over nine and 10 furlongs, Among Equals should be much better suited to this trip and Dermot Weld has always believed him to be smart.
John Oxx and John Murtagh are represented by El Gran Senor filly Insenor, but Weld has a line to her, having beaten her already this season with Worldly Treasure.
Murtagh could score in the Auction Maiden on Slieverue, while Citizen Edward is selected in the nine furlong handicap.
