Bible Belt in action last season© Photo Healy Racing
Jessica Harrington is praying for decent ground at Leopardstown as she prepares to saddle three of the eight runners in Thursday's Ballyroan Stakes.
The County Kildare handler has declared Bible Belt Bob Le Beau and Steps To Freedom for the Group 3 test as there have been limited opportunities for the trio due to the wet summer.
Harrington is particularly keen to get Bible Belt back on the track for the first time since finishing fourth behind So You Think in May's Tattersalls Gold Cup. She has been declared to run on multiple occasions in recent weeks, but rain has scuppered her participation.
"I'm just praying that we finally get some decent ground," said Harrington.
"It's not ideal to be running all three against each other, but they all want good ground and they all need to run somewhere.
"They're calling the ground good to soft at the moment and I just hope they have a dry 24 hours. If they get a lot of rain and the ground goes soft, there's every chance none of them will run.
"Bible Belt hasn't run since the end of the May and I'm desperate to get a run into her because we want to go for the Yorkshire Oaks later this month.
"I suppose out of the three of them, you would think Bible Belt will be the strongest and then there isn't much between the other two."
Mick Halford is represented by two exciting three-year-olds in Massiyn and Blue Corner
Massiyn went very close to completing a hat-trick in a Roscommon Listed race a month ago, while Blue Corner was hugely impressive on his Curragh debut before meeting with defeat when favourite at Fairyhouse last time.
Halford said: "They are two lovely horses and I think there is plenty to come from both of them. They are both still improving.
"It looks a very good race tomorrow, but hopefully they'll give good accounts of themselves.
"Massiyn didn't get much luck in running the last day and but for that he would probably have won.
"Blue Corner is trying a mile and a half for the first time, but I don't think that will worry him and the better ground will suit him much better than the soft ground he ran on in Fairyhouse last time."
The highest-rated horse in the field is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Treasure Beach
The dual Group One winner has yet to run here this term having performed in Dubai, Hong Kong and America on his last three appearances.
Jim Bolger saddles Irish Derby third Light Heavy while a fascinating field is completed by Dermot Weld's high-class dual-purpose performer, Galileo's Choice
