UK And Ireland News Briefs

Trading Leather; Ruler Of The World; Leading Light; Gordon Lord Byron; Kingston Hill.

• TRADING Leather will have his first race in Ireland this year in the €1 million Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Third to The Fugue in the corresponding race last year, Jim Bolger’s four-year-old has kept the best of company in three runs in Britain this season and appears to be the leading Irish-trained challenger to the mighty three-year-old Australia.

Bolger also has a strong hand in the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

“Lucida is our number one filly for that race. She is in terrific form and raring to go”, he said of Godolphin’s Debutante Stakes runner-up.

• ENGLISH Derby winner Ruler Of The World could return to action in the G2 Prix Foy at Longchamp on Sunday.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien is planning a second attempt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October with last year’s Derby winner.

Ruler Of The World managed only seventh behind Treve in the Arc at Longchamp last year. He hasn’t raced since disappointing in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March.

• TRAINER Aidan O'Brien reports Leading Light to be in excellent condition ahead of the G1 Irish St Leger at The Curragh on Saturday.

Last year's English St Leger winner goes for his second classic in good form having won all his three starts this season including the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

The 4YO returned after a short break to win the G3 Irish St Leger Trial Stakes at the Curragh on August 24 defeating Melbourne Cup contender Royal Diamond.

Leading Light has won 8 of his 10 starts for over £700,000 prize-money.

• GEORGE Ryder Stakes winner Gordon Lord Byron will be pitched straight back into action in the G2 Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

He will be on a seven day back up after finishing second in last weekend’s G1 Haydock Sprint Cup.

• KINGSTON Hill, second in the English Derby in June, will face up to 14 rivals in the final classic of the UK flat season in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday.

The Roger Varian-trained colt was one of 15 remaining at the five-day entry stage.

His connections are hoping 14mm of rain that fell on the course over the weekend coupled with more forecast this week, will be enough to make the ground suitably soft for their three-year-old.