Steinbeck leads strong O'Brien team Aidan O'Brien holds a strong hand in both Group races at Leopardstown this evening, where the first on a seven race card gets underway at 5.55pm. The Ballydoyle trainer saddles the two main fancies in the four-runner Korean Racing Authority Tyros Stakes as well as the smart Steinbeck in the Jockey Club Of Turkey Meld Stakes. The Tyros has been won by O'Brien inmates Cape Blanco and Rip Van Winkle in the last two years, while Jim Bolger's top-class New Approach and Teofilo were previously on the roll of honour. This time O'Brien relies on Zoffany, sixth in the Coventry Stakes before winning a Listed race, and High Ruler. The latter beat Jolie Jioconde by three-quarters of a length at Roscommon last time, and the runner-up's trainer Eddie Lynam would be happy for a repeat of that form for his charge. "She's in good form and there is a very small field so we decided to take our chance," said Lynam. "We won black type with her dam and we'd like to do that again before winning a maiden." Just six line up for the Meld Stakes where Steinbeck may take some beating after finishing fourth on his belated seasonal reappearance in the Irish 2000 Guineas. He was subsequently hampered in the closing stages again behind Canford Cliffs in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. His main opponent should be Dermot Weld's consistent Famous Name, while Jim Bolger's recent impressive Curragh maiden winner Vita Venturi also lines up.
