Rebelline likely to miss Leopardstown

Ground conditions are threatening to keep the star filly Rebelline from running in Saturday`s Irish Champion Stakes.

Her trainer, Kevin Prendergast, issued a warning yesterday that Rebelline will only run if the going at Leopardstown is good to yielding or softer.

Such conditions appear very unlikely, with the ground at Leopardstown currently described as 'firm' and the authorities predicting they will water the track today.

'We want to ensure safe ground and we will look at watering,' said the Leopardstown racing manager Tom Burke.

'It`s a long way away still but I would have thought good to firm was a possibility for Saturday. Showers are forecast on Tuesday night and Thursday but not a whole lot is predicted for the Dublin area,' he added.

That was not good news for Prendergast and his Tattersalls Gold Cup winner.

'The weather isn`t helping her but she is fit and well and we will declare her. They will have to put water on it but it will have to be good to yielding or worse for her to run,' Prendergast said.

One star already effectively ruled out is the Juddmonte International winner, Nayef.

His trainer, Marcus Tregoning, said yesterday: 'There is a chance he will be left in on Tuesday but he is not likely to be going to Ireland.

'He is very well and in great shape but that is as much as I can say. The horse is absolutely fine. I am hoping to speak to Sheikh Hamdan soon but we have not made any concrete plans for his next run.'

The Godolphin team have won four of the last eight runnings of the Bord Bia-sponsored Champion Stakes, including last year with Fantastic Light.

The Prince Of Wales`s Stakes winner, Grandera, looks their likely representative this time.

Godolphin`s other winners have been Daylami in 1999, Swain in 1998 and Cezanne in 1994.

Aidan O`Brien has indicated that Hawk Wing is the preferred Ballydoyle No 1 for the race at this stage. Sholokhov and Castle Gandolfo are other possibles.

The domestic action is again at Roscommon today where Mick Kinane has five rides.

The most interesting of them for the season`s leading rider might be Markino for Frances Crowley in the first division of the three-year-old maiden.

However, the Oxx string are in such form that Clovis Site, fourth on her only start at Listowel in April, might do Markino out of first.

Colourfast`s 86 rating makes a pretty convincing argument in the second division, while Jim Bolger could also take the mile and a half handicap with the lightweight Ebika.

The veteran Euphoric ran an okay race behind Peru Girl last time and this is the time of year when Joe Canty`s stalwart usually begins to peak.

He might be the solution to the second leg of the seven-furlong handicap.

Kieren Fallon is set to partner Aidan O`Brien`s French 2,000 Guineas winner, Landseer, in the Group One Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday.

O`Brien also left in Rock Of Gibraltar, Sophisticat, Sahara Desert and Lahinch at yesterday`s confirmation stage for the the six-furlong event.