Irish racing today

There is N.H. racing today at Cork, with the usual huge fields, but the main interes will be centred on the flat racing at Leopardstown, featuring the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes, an important Derby trial at 17.05 CET. Aidan O´Brien saddles 3 of the 7 runners, with stable jockey Johnny Murtagh riding Alessandro Volta, who must be regarded as the stable´s number one. On 2yo form he is held by Kevin Prendergast´s Moiqen (Declan McDonough), but this could easily be changed around today; however Dermot Weld´s Unwritten Rule (Pat Smullen), a narrow winner this CD a fortnight ago, could be the winner this time. Weld and Smullen could also team up to win the listed race over a mile at 16.35 with ex-French Tian Shan, where David Wachman´s Followmyfootsteps (Johnny Murtagh) looks the main threat. At Cork the focus will be on jockeys Davy Russell (making his comeback from injury) and Ruby Walsh, fighting it out for the Irish N.H. jockeys championship. Both have some promising rides, and the day may end up even for them.