In Kentucky Coolmore are already celebrating having bred the Oaks winner Princess Of Sylmar. Hope of more success will be in the hands of Ryan Moore tonight who will partner Lines Of Battle from the Ballydoyle yard. It’s such a huge ask for a European horse to go and win this race but that won’t stop Ballydoyle trying and this year they go with their best chance.

Priced a 30/1 shot on the morning line in America the locals rate him a no hoper. They discount the thought a foreigner can win the biggest race in America especially one whose prep has been on the Tapeta surface in Dubai. Are they right?

Lines Of Battle is by War Front so ticks the first box needed. He’s bred for dirt racing. He ticks a second box. In winning in Dubai he has proven he can travel, compete and win. He ticks a third box. He comes from a yard that has time and again proven themselves on the international stage.

Those three ticks make this price look too big.

Aidan favours sending his horses in late on international raids and once again he has done this with the colt only arriving trackside on Tuesday. The concept is to keep the horse in his own familiar surroundings for as long as possible prior to any raid.

It’s a snatch and grab philosphy that’s proved reliable in the past.

When one considers the quality of the team, Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore and all team Ballydoyle assets, add a dirt pedigree then this doesn’t quite look as dismissive a challenge as 30/1 suggests.

What about the quality of the horse?

Lines Of Battle had six runs.

First time out he beat Leitir Mor (finished second in The Dewhurst, the premier juvenile event in Europe) a head in a Curragh maiden. He then was 6 L inferior to Dawn Approach (champion two year old in Europe, who has just wo the 2000 Guineas) in the Coventry Stakes(G2) at Royal Ascot. He was then beaten a neck by Graffelli in the Tyros Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown. He followed up with a trip to the polytrack at Dundalk where he had Tennessee Wildcat 2 1/2 l behind in a Listed event. Next stop Santa Anita where in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) from a wide draw he ran 6 1/4 L behind stable companion George Vancouver and then in his prep at Meyden he beat Elleval easily.

The pace was slow at Meyden that night as it was for all the contests on the Tapeta and this is the concern. We know from the victories at Dundalk and Meyden that he can handle a synthetic surface but what about a quick dirt surface.  The probability on breeding is the answer is yes. The Dundalk run on a track that can ride slick suggests he will relish a quick surface. Breeding suggests dirt will bring out the best in him.

We know he stays having won over 10 f. We think he’ll like the quick dirt. We know the quality of the team. Add in the good draw, gate 11 and you can see why the noises coming out of Ballydoyle are the type of positives we have come to expect when they know their in with a real chance.

The run for the roses might well come draped in shamrock.

Recommendation : Lines Of Battle Pari Mutuel Price e/w