Major Force has a battle on his hands in the Ballychorus Stakes at Leopardstown this evening, for despite the weakness of the Irish punt against sterling, offering £35,000 at Group Three level has been a sufficient lure to entice two proven English raiders, Tumbleweed Ridge and Mitcham.
It is in his favour, though, that penalties are calculated from June 1st 1999 and thus he escapes any charge for winning the Tetrarch Stakes at three, whereas this date catch the challengers.
He was subsequently sixth to Field of Hope in the Group One Prix de la Foret at Longchamp and his final defeat over this distance at Leopardstown was put into its proper context at Haydock Park last weekend.
One Won One, to whom he had been trying to give 8lb, won the John O'Gaunt Stakes for Joanna Morgan and Fr Sean Breen's Heavenly Syndicate.
Mitcham, who sprang a surprise in Royal Ascot's famous sprint, the King's Stand Stakes, is perhaps an unlikely visitor for this seven-furlong race, but Tumbleweed Ridge, successful in both the 1998 and 1999 runnings of this race, knows his way around Leopardstown.
He was rated unlucky in France last time behind Blu Air Force and this fine traveller has to be the danger.
Dermot Weld could also put his marker on the supporting feature, the £25,000 Glencairn Stakes, with Free To Speak.
He is a horse who has got better with age. At the end of his five-year-old days one would have nominated him as one of those that is always promising but never delivering.
However, in 1998 he came with a stunning late run on the outside to take the McDonogh Handicap at Galway and then last year those tactics were repeated at the Curragh in the mile handicap that preceded the Budweiser Irish Derby when he carried 9-10 and led close home to beat That's Logic.
Declan Gillespie's Crown Point, a decent money-spinner last year, is napped to win the apprentice handicap, one of the Derrinstown Stud series. He was pipped on the post by Impulsif here on his most recent outing.
In the final two races this evening, John Oxx can stake his double claim with Korasoun and Gaudi.
Safer Gambling UK has launched its annual awareness week to promote responsible gambling.
