Kieren Fallon is odds-on with most bookmakers to ride his first Classic winner since his return from suspension in the Budweiser Irish Derby tomorrow.
The 42-year-old gets the leg-up on Aidan O'Brien's Eagle Mountain, with the bookies hoping the `Fallon Factor' fails to materialise. Runner-up behind Authorized in the Derby at Epsom, he has been installed as the 10-11 favourite by Coral and 5-6 with William Hill.
"Eagle Mountain's second place behind runaway Derby winner Authorized ensures he's a warm order for Sunday's big race," said Coral's David Stevens. "The presence of Kieren Fallon in the saddle means he'll be well supported on the day as well."
O'Brien's assault on the Classic does not end there, however, as he also saddles Soldier Of Fortune, Alexander Of Hales and Spanish Harlem. Alain de Royer-Dupre's Shamdinan, third behind Lawman in the French Derby, and Andre Fabre's Royal And Regal represent France. Johnny Murtagh has come in for the ride on the latter and believes the colt will be well suited to conditions at the Curragh. Murtagh said: "I rode Anton Chekhov to beat Royal And Regal in the Prix Hocquart at Longchamp and he looks like a lovely, big horse. I'd say he should suit the Curragh as he looks a galloping type and I'm really looking forward to riding him. Mr Fabre is a great trainer and any time he takes a horse outside France is worth noting - he wouldn't be sending him over if he didn't think he had a good chance.
"He knows what it takes to win the race, he's won it before and I'm looking forward to a good ride. I rode in the Irish Derby for him last year and finished second (on Gentlewave) so I hope I can go one better."
Kevin Prendergast is hoping the likely cut in the ground will help Ballysax Stakes winner Mores Wells, who came back jarred up after his last start: "He was a bit `feely' after the Derrinstown Trial but nothing that four or five days rest after didn't fix. There will be cut in the ground to suit him this weekend.
"His dam won over two miles so I wouldn't have thought the step up to a mile and a half should prove a problem. I presume the extra two furlongs will be a big help to him. I'm hoping that he'll be there or thereabouts."
Mark Johnston runs the supplemented Boscobel and is hoping Sheikh Mohammed's colt can add to his victory at Royal Ascot last week.
"He is in fantastic form. Obviously he wouldn't have been supplemented if he wasn't," Johnston said. "He didn't lose a lot of weight and put it all on again. We are delighted with him."
