Paddy Power is Ireland’s biggest bookmaking outfit. New Approach, after the Derby at Epsom, had attracted a great deal of ante post money to make it a Derby Double at the Curragh. Early Sunday morning, the Galileo colt was withdrawn. Paddy Power is refunding all the New Approach wagers.

Jim Bolger, New Approach’s trainer, has said that there are no plans for his star colt. X rays have been taken and the results are not in yet. New Approach is in the ante post market for the King George at Ascot in late July.

Luca Cumani’s Curtain Call, in the hands of Fran Berry, finished fifth in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Sunday. Curtain Call was a victim of Alessandro Volta’s antics. The connections of Curtain Call have lodged an appeal with the (Irish) Turf Club. They are contending that Curtain Call should be placed ahead of Alessandro Volta. I do not know when the decision will come.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien has said that the St Leger at Doncaster will be one of Frozen Fire’s major targets. The St Leger, the oldest Classic in the United Kingdom, is run over 2800 metres. St Legers in India are over the same distance. Tartan Bearer is in the ante post list for the St Leger with Paddy Power but there is no confirmation yet.

The big race this Saturday in England is the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park. Wimbledon is very close to Sandown. Mount Nelson, trained by Aidan O’Brien, runs. Sir Henry Cecil’s Phoenix Tower is in. The two are heading the market.

In news from Hong Kong, Good Ba Ba has been voted the horse of the year. Good Ba Ba has won four Group I races this season. Douglas Whyte is the champion rider.

Curlin worked on the grass at Churchill Downs on Tuesday. The highest rated horse in the world was setting foot on grass for the first time. Curlin went 1400 metres in 1 31.2 and galloped out 1600 in 1 45.6.

Steve Asmussen expressed satisfaction. “We are very excited to work him on the grass. He’s a tremendous athlete. Robby (Albarado) loved how he felt.”

Jockey Albarado was thrilled. “He is a smart horse. He is aware of his surroundings. He felt great.”

Curlin may race either in the Man O War at Belmont Park or in the Arlington Handicap in Chicago. There is a problem with licensing for two minority owners because of legal questions. It has to be sorted out before a decision is taken. France-Galop has expressed concern about it as well.

In the UK and Ireland, if there is an inquiry or an objection and the winner is disqualified, wagers on the horse moved up are paid in addition to the horse that won the race. This is called the ‘first past the post’ rule.

I had once mentioned a popular wager in Ireland. It is known as ‘betting without the favourite.’ When there is a prohibitive favourite, odds are offered on the other horses. It is certainly worth a careful look for adoption in India.

I left Chicago on May 29. I am leaving Dublin on Wednesday. After a two-hour stop in London, I fly to Chicago arriving at O’Hare quarter past five Wednesday afternoon. Almost five weeks in Europe and this is a schedule I absolutely love though it ranks behind my annual sojourn in India.

In addition to Indiarace stories, there is other work I do. It is a tight schedule. When I go back to Chicago, there is a lot of stakes action. Arlington Park will hold a racing festival featuring the Arlington Million in August. The harness racing season kicks into high gear. The Meadowlands in New Jersey will host the Hambletonian, a million dollar trotting race, in early August. I am involved in harness racing in a big way.