Racing: Saffron Walden on road to Meld Stakes

SAFFRON WALDEN, the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner, is among five acceptors from the stable of Aidan O'Brien for the Meld Stakes at the Curragh on Friday. O'Brien said yesterday: "Saffron Walden is well and is a possible for the Meld, but we will decide nearer the time." Saffron Walden was seventh to Oath in the Derby at Epsom.

Michael Jarvis is considering running Alrassaam in the same race. Jarvis said: "Alrassaam is only a possible at the moment, though I am going to have a close look at the race. I left him in because the forecast is for rain and I am looking for decent ground for this horse."

Jarvis will be pleased to learn the going at the Curragh had changed to good by lunchtime yesterday following an inch of rain over the weekend.

Meanwhile, O'Brien reports that Sir Alex Ferguson's Heritage Hall, the first winner in Ireland for the Manchester United manager when scoring readily at the Curragh last month, could also run on Friday.

O'Brien said: "Heritage Hall is a possible for the Merrion EBF Race though we might run a maiden instead."

The Curragh announced yesterday there were four second entries, three of them from England, at a cost of pounds 3,500 each for the Moyglare Stud Stakes to be run there on 5 September.

Torgau, the winner of the Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket for Giles Bravery, is the principal addition to the Group One event along with Jeff Pearce's Indeedyedo, Roshani from the Mick Channon stable and the unraced Mandma, trained for Lady Clague by John Oxx who won the race 12 months ago with Edabiya.

Barry Hills and Richard Hughes stole the show at Ayr yesterday with a 22-1 treble highlighted by Prolix's success in the pounds 30,000, Group Three, Scottish Classic.

Hughes made all on Prolix to win in convincing fashion. Housemaster, the Derby fourth, mounted a persistent challenge in the straight but could not peg back the winner.

Hills said from his Lambourn base: "The possibilities for him now are the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock, the Royal Whip at the Curragh or the Juddmonte International at York."