Footsteps ruled out of Curragh bid

Aidan O’Brien confirmed this evening that UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand will not take his chance in the Boylesports-sponsored equivalent at the Curragh on Saturday.

The unbeaten son of Giant’s Causeway had been uneasy in the market since betting opened on Monday.

“The horse picked up a stone bruise over in Newmarket,” O’Brien said. “It’s nothing serious, just a minor setback. He’s been doing some light cantering since but we are not prepared to risk him.

“He didn’t work this morning but he was in the swimming pool and we’re not 100 per cent happy.”

Newmarket fourth Oratorio will now be the mount of Kieren Fallon, and the Ballydoyle maestro will also run Albert Hall, Showdance and Hills Of Aran.,

Riding plans for the latter three are not yet finalised but Seamus Heffernan, Johnny Murtagh and Colm O’Donoghue will be the men in the plate.

O’Brien added he would run three in the Irish 1000 the following day - Newmarket heroine Virginia Waters, Mona Lisa and Queen Titi.

Fallon will once again be on Virginia Waters.

Ace and Solskjaer will represent O’Brien in the same days Tattersalls Gold Cup.