Finale flourish for Meain machine Inis Meain returns to the scene of his victory in last season's Alleged Stakes when he contests the Finale Stakes, the Curragh's swansong for the season on Sunday. Denis Hogan's dual-purpose performer has only run once on the level, finishing fourth at Listowel in September, since tackling hurdles at the Punchestown Festival in May. Owner Barry Connell said: "He's much better on the Flat than over hurdles, but I'm sure he will win a decent pot over them." He added: "I just don't think he's madly in love with hurdling, to be honest, he's rated 109 on the Flat yet only 129 over hurdles. "He needs a bit of dig in the ground, which is why he hasn't run much this summer, but he's still very useful on the Flat. "This will be his last run on the Flat and then he'll go back hurdling, but only when there's plenty of juice." Luca Cumani sends over to Ireland an interesting contender in Second Step, who will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni for owner Craig Bennett. John Oxx's Tarana and the Dermot Weld-trained Emerita give the Aga Khan two good chances, while Aidan O' Brien runs Blue Hussar, Buonarroti, who was fifth in the Racing Post Trophy last year, and the once-raced Vivat Rex, who won at Galway. Jim Bolger saddles Chance To Dance, third behind Free Eagle on Irish Champions Weekend, and the promising Altesse. Mick Halford is responsible for Dubai Gold Cup winner Certerach, last seen finishing ninth in the Irish Leger. "He just wasn't himself last time but is back in good form now," said Halford. "He should have no problem dropping back in trip and I'd imagine this will be his last run at home before Dubai. "I just want him to run better than he did last time so we can sign off on a better performance."
