St Leger third Chimes At Midnight has been declared for two races at the Curragh over the weekend 'as a precaution', it was revealed today.
Luke Comer`s charge is among eight declarations for tomorrow`s Jefferson Smurfit Irish St Leger, having been supplemented at a cost of £21,875 earlier in the week.
There is just a 'possibility' that the son of Danzig may turn out again in the Group Three Aga Khan Studs Blandford Stakes the following day.
Comer said today: 'It`s just a precaution. It`s just to keep our options open. 'When you pay good money to enter into a race you`re entitled to stay in.
'As far as Sunday`s race is concerned, it`s a decent prize, there are only six horses declared.
'If he was jumping out of his skin there is a possibility but at the same time you`ve got to look after the horse.'
Comer reports that his stable star has done well since his length-and-three-quarters third to Millenary at Town Moor.
'He ate up better afterthe Leger last week than he did after his previous race,' the owner-trainer said.
'He thrives on racing. He does very little else _ it`s the only place he does fast work.
'He was unlucky last week. The accidental belt he got put him back a stride and of course the ground was like a bullet.'
The going at the Curragh is described as good to yielding, good on the round course.
'That would be perfect,' Comer added.
'In his trial for the Leger at the Curragh three weeks ago he was cantering and if it had been soft ground he would have carried on at the same pace but the others wouldn`t have.
'I would say with everything in his favour he would have a really good chance. 'He`ll be ridden by by Seamus Heffernan. I was delighted with John Carroll at Doncaster but he doesn`t know the Curragh like Seamus who won on him before when he won his maiden at Leopardstown.'
Chimes At Midnight will face seven rivals in the Irish Leger including British hopefuls Arctic Owl, Little Rock, Mutafaweq and Yavana`s Pace.
The other British-based runner on Saturday`s card will be Godolphin`s Maidaan in the Group Three Aon Macdonagh Boland Stakes.
Sunday`s feature at the Curragh is the Aga Khan Studs National Stakes in which Aidan O`Brien is responsible for five of the 10 runners.
The Ballydoyle trainer runs Beckett, Bonnard, Darwin, King`s County and Stone Age in the Group One prize won last year by Vodafone Derby hero Sinndar. The Mark Johnston-trained Down To The Woods, a winner at Doncaster on Leger day, is the sole British representative.
Johnston also runs Happy Change in the Blandford Stakes. There is British interest in the Listed Aga Khan Studs Blenheim Stakes in the shape of the Mick Channon-trained Imperial Dancer.
