Footsteps on the slide

The weakness of Footstepsinthesand has been the main feature of the early trading on this Saturday´s Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas.

A big drifter on the exchanges, the bookmakers have followed suit with Cashmans deciding to quote the Aidan O´Brien stable rather than individual horses from Ballydoyle, while Paddy Power and the sponsors have both pushed out the Newmarket winner sharply.

Cashmans bet - 11/10 A P O´Brien stable, 6/4 Dubawi, 5/1 (from 10´s) Rebel Rebel, 10/1 (from 8´s) Democratic Deficit, 20 Bobs Pride.

Raydan, highly touted prior to his debut fourth in a Curragh maiden last month, is considered a doubtful runner.

Boylesports have installed Dubawi as their 9/4 favourite, with Footstepsinthesand moved out from 7/4 to 5/2 and joined at that price by well-supported stablemate Oratorio.

Powers have slashed Dubawi from 3/1 down to 6/4 favourite, also cutting Oratorio to 2/1 (from 7/2) and offering 6/4 Footstepsinthesand at 6/4 with-a-run.

Cashmans have also opened betting on the other two Group 1´s at the Curragh this weekend, the Boylesports Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Tattersalls Gold Cup - both run on Sunday.

The O´Brien-trained Virginia Waters is the red hot 11/10 favourite to complete the Newmarket/Curragh Guineas double, while they also go 5/1 Maids Causeway, 10 Saoire, 12 Penkenna Princess, Jazz Princess, 14/1 Bar.

David Wachman is likely to leave a decision on Damson´s participation until the last minute, and the Cork firm make her 9/4 (with-a-run).

Azamour is a doubtful runner in the Tattersalls Gold Cup for which Cashmans bet - 4/7 Bago, 11/4 Grey Swallow, 7/1 Yeats, 14/1 Norse Dancer, 16/1 Bar.