Weld eyes French 1,000

Dermot Weld is wresting with the problem of what to run in Sunday`s French 1,000 Guineas.

Both Rum Charger, winner of the Athasi Stakes at the weekend, and the Park Stakes winner, Saranac Lake, are possible Weld runners in the Dubai Poule d`Essai des Pouliches.

'One of them is likely to run at Longchamp but a final decision has not been made,' the Curragh trainer said yesterday.

'We will have to see how Rum Charger comes out of her race on Sunday. She seems in great form but it is a bit soon,' Weld added.

Saranac Lake has not yet run this season and neither has the Moyglare runner-up, Dress To Thrill, who is described as a 'definite' for the Entenmann`s Irish 1,000 Guineas.

The Irish challenge for the first French classics of the season already includes Sophisticat in the 1,000, and Aidan O`Brien has described Landseer, Sahara Desert and Della Francesca as strong possibles for the Poule d`Essai des Poulains, the French 2,000 Guineas.

Weld will also be represented at Leopardstown, where Saranac Lake also holds an entry in the Derrinstown 1,000 Trial.

However, it will be the Derby Trial that holds most attention, with High Chaparral yesterday confirmed as one of 10 Aidan O`Brien entries for the Group Three race.

Just six other horses have been left in the race, including the Mark Johnston-trained Sir George Turner and a trio of colts from the Weld stable.

They include the highly touted Jazz Beat, winner of his only start last season at Gowran, but Weld has yet to decide which of the three will represent him.

Cashmans yesterday took the unusual step of offering a match bet between Rock Of Gibraltar and Hawk Wing in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and came down strongly in favour of the Derby favourite.

Hawk Wing is a 1 to 3 favourite against Rock Of Gibraltar at 9 to 4 to reverse the placings in the Newmarket Guineas of last weekend.

There are unlikely to be any classic clues from this evening`s card at Naas but the impressive form being shown by the Kevin Prendergast camp makes Sa`ed an interesting-looking contender for the colts` maiden.

The well-being of his horses was advertised by Rebelline and Solid Approach at the Curragh on Monday and Sa`ed should come on for a second to Calamella at Leopardstown.

Weld runs two in the fillies` maiden, with Pat Smullen on the Danehill newcomer, De Laroche.

Ikdam Melody, a length winner from Numbersixvalverde in a Punchestown bumper last month, can take the novice hurdle.