It is a small but select field which lines up for the 1m6f Group 1 Irish St Leger on Sunday at the Curragh with star stayer Kyprios expected to make his long-anticipated return.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained five-year-old was unbeaten in six starts last season and will be attempting to win back-to-back renewals of the Irish St Leger. He recorded a fourth straight Group 1 success when taking the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp by twenty lengths in October and has not been seen on the track since.
"I didn't think he'd make it back [for the Irish Leger] to tell you the truth and I can't quite believe that he's going to make it back, there's still another day to go," said O'Brien.
"He had a massive injury and I didn't think it was going to be possible to get him back but the team have done a great job to get him back here, everyone that has been involved in him along the way deserves the credit.
"We're hoping that he makes it back, he starts off OK, comes home well and then we can start planning after that, really."
Stablemate Emily Dickinson remains well-supported in the betting following her comfortable victory over course and distance in the Group 2 Curragh Cup. She fared best of the rest in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup behind Quickthorn, who managed to steal the race from the front, and will benefit from a three pound weight allowance over her four other male rivals. With proven form in these conditions, the four-year-old filly appeals as a likely winner with question marks over Kyprios and Eldar Eldarov.
Last year's St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov was expected to take his place in the Group 3 Irish St Leger trial at the start of August, but was withdrawn.
"He wasn't travelling very well and we don't know why because he's never had that problem before," explained Chris Wall, racing manager for owners KHK Racing Ltd.
"He got upset travelling and they thought rather than carry on to Ireland they would bring him home. I think they had got into north Wales just beyond Chester.
"The worry was if you put him on the ferry and it deteriorated into something like colic then you are in the middle of the sea and you can't do anything about it. He just got his knickers in a twist about something so they brought him home."
Although Eldar Eldarov has failed to win since his Doncaster Classic success, the son of Dubawi has produced some useful performances, including a good second in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup over the same distance in May. The form would suggest 1m6f is the ideal trip for the four-year-old although the trends are against him – a UK-trained horse has not won the race since Brown Panther in 2014.
Jessica Harrington's Yashin will wear first-time cheekpiecesfor his first attempt in Group 1 company whilst Dawn Rising represent the Joseph O'Brien team after a second in the Group 3 Irish St Leger Trial.
WIN: EMILY DICKINSON
