Giant`s Causeway will be flown to Kentucky this week and his Breeders` Cup Classic chances certainly didn`t take a knock after a bullish update on his progress from trainer Aidan O`Brien yesterday.
'He`s in great form and we`re all looking forward to it,' O`Brien said. 'He`s like a tank. I really think he has never been better than he is now - which is saying something!'
The Ballydoyle trainer added the colt will be flown to the US 'early this week'. Giant`s Causeway is currently a 5 to 1 chance with Coral Eurobet for the 10-furlong dirt race.
Bernstein is the intended Ballydoyle runner in the Mile, while Turnberry Isle has the Breeders` Cup Juvenile as a target at Churchill Downs on November 4th and is rated a 14 to 1 hope by bookmakers for that contest.
Before that, however, O`Brien could have one last Group One juvenile runner in Europe, as the trainer nominated Sligo Bay as a possible runner for this weekend`s Grand Criterium de St Cloud over 10 furlongs.
The outsider of O`Brien`s trio, Bonnard, fared best in Saturday`s Racing Post Trophy but O`Brien was willing to discount the effort of the favourite, Freud, who could only manage fifth.
'We ran him back a bit too quick. Mick (Kinane) said he was the first one beaten. We took a chance and it didn`t work,' O`Brien said. 'Darwin (fourth) wants better ground but George (Duffield) thought Bonnard (third) ran a super race.'
The Ballydoyle trainer also excused King`s County, who was just beaten by the William Haggas-trained Count Dubois in yesterday`s Group One Gran Criterium at the San Siro in Milan. 'He ran all over the place but was still only beaten a neck. It was a good boost for Beckett`s form in the National Stakes,' he said.
O`Brien`s Chiang Mai ran fourth to the Andre Fabre-trained Amilynx in the Prix Royal Oak (French St Leger) at Longchamp yesterday. Apollo Victoria finished last in the same race.
Meanwhile, Limestone Ladcontinued his chasing educationin the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Novice Chase at Cork on Saturday. He showed he was none the worse for his second outing in a week as he defeated 5 to 1 chance Sackville by three lengths.
There are some ambitious plans for Limestone Lad now that he has made a smooth transition to steeplechasing, with his owner-trainer Jim Bowe remarking: 'We will be thinking big things for him this season.
'We are delighted that Limestone Lad jumped better today for Barry Cash. A more testing track and softer ground would be even more suitable for him,' said Bowe, referring to the fact that the horse had to come under pressure to catch and pass Sackville in the home straight.
Knife Edge scored a famous success on what could be his last start over timber when flooring hot favourite Youlneverwalkalone in a thrilling finish to the John James McManus Memorial Hurdle. Fresh from an easy success on the Flat at Gowran Park, Knife Edge showed plenty of determination as he fought back on the runin to defeat the favourite by half a length, with Moscow Flyer finishing well for third, less than a length adrift.
