Strong Irish representation in Voltigeur Aidan O'Brien has high hopes for Venice Beach, Spanish Steps and Douglas Macarthur in the Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes at York tomorrow. Venice Beach was last seen finishing third in the Grand Prix de Paris, six places ahead of Spanish Steps, who has since come out and landed the Ballyroan Stakes. Douglas Macarthur took the Derrinstown back in the spring but has subsequently come up short in the Epsom and Irish Derbys. O'Brien said: "Both Venice Beach and Spanish Steps went to Paris. "Venice Beach ran a great race. Spanish Steps was a little bit green, a little bit babyish but came forward great from it and won very nicely at Leopardstown, beating Johannes Vermeer. "Venice Beach has been in good form since France and we think - and hope - the track will suit him well. "He is in good order as well. We think he is a horse who will progress through the whole year and look forward to him next year. "We're looking forward to seeing Douglas Macarthur run. We think he gets a mile and a half well - and might even get further. "But he is in very good form and we're very happy with him. He had a break after his last run and is just ready to start back again." Cracksman's owner Anthony Oppenheimer has reiterated it is "all about next year" for the Voltigeur favourite. Not even entered in the St Leger, the John Gosden-trained colt finished a close third in the Derby at Epsom and second in the Irish equivalent. Gosden has repeatedly said the son of Frankel will not be seen at his best until he fills his substantial frame and whether he even runs again this season is still up for debate. Oppenheimer told Press Association Sport: "He's had a good rest and has been going very well at home. The ground is reasonable so all looks good. "It really is all about next year with him, though, that is what the jockeys who ride him are telling us. "Pat Smullen got off him after the Irish Derby and said if we looked after him for the rest of this year he'd be some prospect next season, so that is what we are doing. "We'll see how he gets on here but he's not in the St Leger, anyway. "What we're hoping is that next season he'll be in races like the King George and maybe at this meeting over 10 furlongs (Juddmonte International). "He's a very short price and when there are all those Coolmore horses you never know how the race will be run but he's very well. "He just needs to fill out, and when he does you'll see the real Cracksman. But having had a break since the Irish Derby, he may well have done that already, we don't know."
