PEARL LOOKS NATIONAL PICK Mark Johnston has proved a thorn in the side of Aidan O´Brien in juvenile races this season, and the Middleham trainer may again come out on top at the Curragh on Sunday with Pearl Of Love in the Group 1 Dunnes Stores National Stakes.Pearl Of Love proved much too strong for the O´Brien-trained Tycoon in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, and followed up in impressive fashion over this course and distance last month against a four-strong Ballydoyle team in the Group 2 Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes.However O´Brien reopposes on this occasion with his number one juvenile colt, the 2,000 Guineas ante-post favourite One Cool Cat. The speedy son of Storm Cat also completed a hat-trick last time when beating stable-companion Old Deuteronomy in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes, although his task was eased by the poor showing of Three Valleys in that six furlongs event.The nine-runner field also includes the Neville Callaghan-trained Barbajuan, O´Brien´s York runner-up Celtic Cat and recent course winner Wathab but a fascinating duel between Pearl Of Love and One Cool Cat appears the likely scenario.A total prize-fund of 630,000 euro is up for grabs on this eight-race card, and the Group 3 Irish National Stud Blandford Stakes may also be for export with Place Rouge and Chorist taken to fight out the finish of this fillies ten furlongs event.O´Brien rarely leaves this venue empty-handed, and Colossus looks the answer to the Listed St Bernard Blenheim Stakes. The Ben Dunne Memorial Solonaway Stakes also carries Listed status, and Livadiya may edge out McDonogh Handicap winner Eklim in this mile test.
