Curragh ground softens in advance of weekend

Ground conditions for Saturday's Vincent O'Brien National S. (Ire-G1) look

set to be on the testing side after significant rain fell on the Curragh

Tuesday. Officially, the going was described as yielding on the round course and

good-to-yielding in the home stretch, with more rain due in Kildare.

"We've had a mixed day, with sun, wind and some showers," Course Manager Paul

Hensey told Racing Post. "That is pretty much how it is forecast for the

rest of  the week, too. There will be good drying spells, but showers

probably every day, too, so it is difficult to predict what the ground will be

like. It might be something similar to how it is now."

Ballydoyle's running plans could depend on the likely surface, with ZOFFANY

(Dansili [GB]) already proven on yielding going when capturing the Tyros S.

(Ire-G3) at Leopardstown July 22 and Phoenix S. (Ire-G1) at the Curragh August

8. Whether Johnny Murtagh will resume his partnership with Michael Tabor's

colorbearer depends on plans at Doncaster, as the St Leger S. (Eng-G1) clashes

with this card.

Four of the other entries from Ballydoyle -- the Phoenix S. fourth EMPEROR

HADRIAN (Holy Roman Emperor), Futurity S. (Eng-G2) fourth HIGH RULER (Mr.

Greeley), Acomb S. (Eng-G3) fourth LAKE ONTARIO (Johannesburg) and the Railway

S. (Ire-G2) runner-up SAMUEL MORSE (Danehill Dancer) -- are also engaged in

Doncaster's Champagne S. (Eng-G2) on Saturday.

The potential Aidan O'Brien's sextet is completed by Susan Magnier's

impressive June 26 course-and-distance maiden winner RODERIC O'CONNOR (Galileo

[Ire]) and Derrick Smith's RUDOLF VALENTINO (Oasis Dream [GB]), who was a latest

fifth behind PATHFORK (Distorted Humor) in the August 21 Futurity.