RAIDING MISSION

Advertise campaign to destroy the O’brien Phoenix bid

LONE British contender Advertise looks the chief threat to Aidan O’brien and a 17th win in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

The Martyn Meadetrained colt, beaten a length by Calyx in the Coventry at Royal Ascot before winning the Group 2 Arqana July Stakes at Newmarket last month, will attempt to become the first British trained winner of the race since Princely Heir triumphed for Mark Johnston and Jason Weaver, at Leopardstown, in 1997.

The Phoenix has been the target for Advertise since he won at Newmarket, although indications yesterday suggested a final decision on his participation has not yet been made, with next week’s Prix Morny, also a Group 1, a tempting alternative.

But, if he travels for Sunday’s race, the Showcasing colt, appropriately owned by Phoenix Thoroughbreds Limited, will face the might of Ballydoyle on Sunday, as Aidan O’brien finds himself with the task of choosing his Phoenix team, in pursuit of a winner’s prize of €142,500.

The 110-rated Sergei Prokofiev, a close third behind Calyx and Advertise in the Coventry, is expected to lead the Ballydoyle challenge as O’brien chases a fifth successive win in the race he first won with Lavery in 1998.

Worryingly, O’brien is responsible for 10 of the 14 acceptors for Sunday’s race – five colts Land Force, North Wind, Sergei Prokofiev, The Irish Rover and Van Beethoven and five fillies Fairyland, Fantasy, Gossamer Wings, Just Wonderful and So Perfect.

And only two other trainers who might be represented are Jessica Harrington, who can choose between Klute and Indigo Balance and Tom Mullins, who is considering running Mia Mento, successful on her debut at Leopardstown.

Elsewhere, Sligo hosts a seven-race flat card today, first stage of the Cleveragh track’s two-day August meeting.

Dermot Weld and Declan Mcdonogh might double-up with a couple of threeyear-olds, once-raced Mutaabeq and handicap debutant Khalaab.

Mutaabeq impressed me when picking up well to slam the solid yardstick National Wealth on his debut at Ballinrobe and, likely to improve for that experience, might have the edge over Jim Bolger’s 85-rated Meagher’s Flag in the Ladies Day Tomorrow Race.

Khalaab, a winner on his belated debut at Leopardstown, has been gelded since finishing third to Hand On Heart at the Curragh in May and looks feasibly-treated on a mark of 84 for his handicap debut in the Diageo Day Handicap.

Zoffaniya, impressive winner on her maiden on this track in June, has Echo Park, from the in-form Harrington team, to beat in the Irish Stallion Farms Oaks.

And Buffalo Blue, the mount of Rachael Blackmore, has solid each-way claims in the Student Day Handicap following a creditable effort in Galway last week, when sixth to Share The Honour.

CURRAGH THREAT Martyn Meadetrained Advertise CHAMPION-JOCKEY Davy Russell was removed to Tullamore Hospital for precautionary x-rays on a leg injury following a fall from Crack Of Thunder in the Michael Holland Tyres Handicap Chase in Roscommon last night.