Second Empire, placed third to Desert Prince for the third time this season in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, could yet be given another opportunity to redeem his reputation in the Breeders' Cup Mile.
His trainer Aidan O'Brien said yesterday: "Second Empire is a possible for the Breeders' Cup. They didn't really go fast enough for him at Ascot and he didn't get the clearest of runs in the straight but he has come out of the race well."
Apart from that, O'Brien enjoyed another Group One weekend with Sunspangled in the Fillies Mile, and another of his fillies, the Moyglare third Crystal Downs, is set to be given her chance in Sunday's Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp.
Ebadiya will fly the Irish flag in the Arc itself, with John Murtagh in the saddle. Dramatically withdrawn at the start of the Irish Leger with a nose bleed, Ebadiya's trainer John Oxx reported yesterday: "The plan is to run if the ground is soft and it looks like she might get her conditions. At the moment her nose is the least of my worries!"
Keeping their noses in front is all that worry punters at Dundalk this afternoon when the in-form Ruby Walsh is taken to notch up his quarter century for the season on Little-K in the Finches Handicap Chase.
Walsh brought his total to 24 with a double at Listowel on Saturday, and earlier in the week at the Kerry festival, Little-K got to within a neck of completing a hat-trick. Boots N All was the one who defied him, but in the form he is in at the moment, Walsh will be a big asset to Little-K regaining winning ways.
Walsh will also have a fancied mount in the Fane Handicap Hurdle in the shape of Michael Hourigan's Mr Jeeves, but this one will have to cope with Oranbay, whose position at the bottom of the handicap will be enhanced further by Adrian O'Shea's claim.
Chilling's flat wins at Clonmel and Tramore this season make him an interesting proposition in the opening maiden hurdle; and Fardus, fourth in the listed Round Tower Stakes, before running down the field in the National Stakes, should be up to breaking her duck in the nine-furlong maiden.
Michael Grassick's Bellfan is marginally preferred in the apprentice race and the Curragh trainer's Hazy Buck could be worth examining in the bumper.
Fergus Sweeney was banned for two days (Oct 7th and 8th) by the stewards at Hamilton yesterday for using his whip with excessive frequency on Daring Destiny, runner-up in the Alfie Westwood Conditions Stakes.
