Connections of the French Derby winner, Holding Court, have until noon today to finally decide whether or not to shell out the £85,000 necessary for the colt to run in Sunday's Budweiser Irish Derby, but already the bookmakers believe Holding Court has a mountain to climb.
The Michael Jarvis-trained colt, a brilliant six-length winner in France, is only third favourite for Ireland's premier classic behind the Epsom Derby victor, Sinndar, and the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas winner, King's Best.
Sinndar and King's Best are 2 to 1 joint favourites with the Cork-based Cashmans firm for Sunday's big race, with Holding Court on 3 to 1. Next best is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Ciro, who is 8 to 1 after starting a disappointing favourite for the French Derby.
It's expected that Holding Court will be supplemented today, but Jarvis now has to add the presence of good to firm ground at the Curragh to his calculations. Holding Court's best form is with a cut in the going.
The Curragh manager Jason Morris walked the track yesterday and reported: 'I walked it with the clerk of the course Joe Collins and he decided it was good to firm ground. We will start watering tomorrow, particularly in the straight. The round course will need less.
'The forecast is for it to be pretty warm and dry this week, with the possibilities of showers from Thursday. We will water to ensure a good fast racing surface with no jar in it.'
Kalypso Katie, the runner-up to Love Divine in the Epsom Oaks, is being lined up for a crack at the Curragh's Saturday feature, the Group Two Hunston Financial Pretty Polly Stakes.
The Jeremy Noseda-trained grey missed Royal Ascot's Ribblesdale Stakes due to the going but faces an intriguing clash with the big home hope, Preseli, who was in season when beaten for the first time in her career, in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.
Cashmans Derby betting: 2 Sinndar & King's Best, 3 Holding Court, 8 Ciro, 12 Glyndebourne, 20 Grand Finale, 40 Muakaad, 50 Media Puzzle & Shakespeare.
Far Cry, the winner of the Foster's Lager Northumberland Plate 12 months ago, was the most notable withdrawal from this year's running at yesterday's confirmation stage.
Stablemate Heros Fatal is now the stable's only possible representative and has been installed favourite across the board with major layers.
'If Heros Fatal has recovered from his Royal Ascot run he must have a very sound chance. Time may show that he faced a very stiff task against Tony Martin's Barba Papa,' said Coral spokesman Ian Wassell.
Richard Hannon's Churlish Charm heads the weights with a welter-burden of 10st 2lb for Saturday's race, for which 25 horses have stood their ground.
Should Churlish Charm not line up, the weights may still not rise as last year's fourth Rainbow Ways is set to carry 9st 11lb.
A stable spokeswoman for trainer Barry Hills said: 'He is in that and the Curragh Cup but Mr Hills hasn't seen the entries yet and no decision has been made where he will go.'
Richard Quinn has an early appointment at Portman Square this morning when he goes before the disciplinary committee of the Jockey Club.
The Scottish-born jockey has been referred by the Ascot stewards over his use of the whip aboard Shibboleth, fourth in the St James's Palace Stakes last week.
He also appears later when appealing against the £1,000 fine he received from the Epsom stewards for his failure to parade in the correct order before riding Beat Hollow in the Vodafone Derby.
