Ground rules Benbaun out The prospect of heavy ground has scuppered plans for Benbaun's attempt a fourth win in the Grenzen Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. The ultra-consistent sprinter has captured this Group Three dash three times - in 2005, 2006 and 2007 - and has won seven times in all at the County Kildare track. Kevin Ryan's ace is now likely to go straight for the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp in October, which he won in 2007 when trained by the Thirsk trainer's friend Mark Wallace, who emigrated to Australia at the end of last year. Benbaun showed he was as good as ever when only going down by a neck to Borderlescott in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York last week. "The ground is heavy so he won't be going to the Curragh," said Ryan. "He ran a fantastic race at York and he'll probably go straight to the Abbaye now. He's such a great horse to have around."
