Black-type action on the flat and over jumps in Ireland this weekend very much takes place in an international context.

Willie Mullins is in Meydan for Simenon's attempt on today's Dubai Gold Cup, but also has Mozoltov at Navan, four runners at Limerick tomorrow, and for good measure the champion National Hunt trainer also has Un De Sceaux putting his unbeaten record on the line in a Grade Three hurdle at Auteuil today.

Barry Geraghty will ride the exciting prospect and Mullins’s son Patrick said: “He’s obviously not a simple ride but we think Barry will get on well with him. It’s a Grade Three so the penalties suit him – he is getting weight off Gemix who won the French Champion Hurdle.”

Before all that, at 5am today Gordon Lord Byron will have got his daring Australian campaign under way in the Group One Gorge Ryder Stakes at the Rosehill track in Sydney.

Tipperary trainer Tom Hogan is targeting other Group One prizes for his stable star at the Randwick course in Sydney in a fortnight.

Some potential Group One stars of the future could be on show at Leopardstown tomorrow where the Group Three 1,000 Guineas Trial has an enviable pedigree having thrown up the subsequent Newmarket heroines Homecoming Queen and Virginia Waters in recent years.

Dermot Weld has started the turf season with a flourish and the seven-length course and distance winner Balansiya brings a big reputation.