General leads Dundalk charge On a relatively quiet Sunday ahead of next weekend's Irish Champions Weekend, Aidan O'Brien fields just two runners at Dundalk's all-weather meeting. O'Brien is obviously facing a crucial date next Saturday as Australia goes for glory in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes and while General Marshall is hardly of the same calibre as his illustrious stablemate, he is sure to have his supporters in the www.dundalkstadium.com Maiden. The War Front colt boasts a clutch of Group-race entries in the autumn but has yet to strike in three outings, although he posted arguably a career-best effort when chasing home useful performer Toscanini at this track on his penultimate outing. Joseph O'Brien will be in the plate once again for this seven-furlong heat and he will be joined in the weighing room by his brother Donnacha, who shoots for a first win aboard Quartz in the Dundalk Stadium Apprentice Maiden. As a half-brother to Kingsbarns, this Fastnet Rock colt could be a popular choice after finishing third behind two more experienced rivals on his debut at Bellewstown last month. Among the opposition to General Marshall is the Des McDonogh-trained Alfie's Word, who was fifth to Belle Et Bete on debut at Down Royal when running wide on the bend. McDonogh said: "I was very pleased with her first run and I think she'll be better going left-handed. It's a fair contest and I could almost name three to be ahead of her, so I would be delighted if she was placed. She has improved from her first run."
