Views from connections ahead of Rockingham

Ger Lyons has the Ayr Gold Cup as a potential target for Joe Eile as he prepares to take his chance in the Boylesports.com Rockingham Handicap at the Curragh today.

The five-year-old will be trying five furlongs for the first time after being campaigned largely over six and seven furlongs.

He claimed third in the Paddy Power Sprint on his latest outing and Lyons is lining him up as an Ayr contender for later in the year.

"He's in good order and while he doesn't want extremes of ground he is very uncomplicated. He's a lovely type of horse and the improvement he has shown over the last 18 months is incredible," said Lyons.

"I'm not happy with where he is drawn (five) but we had a good draw in the Scurries (Paddy Power) the last day so we can't complain too much. Whether or not he is quick enough for the Rockingham I'm not sure, but he showed enough speed in the Scurries for this.

"An Irish trainer hasn't won the Ayr Gold Cup for many, many years and we came close with Benwilt Breeze in 2007.

"It's a race I'd like to win and I see Joe Eile as being tailor-made for the race. Whether or not he's good enough for it is another story, but long-term that's his target."

Ken Condon 's In Salutem has won one of his eight starts to date, with seven of those runs coming on the all-weather track at Dundalk.

He was just touched off on his turf debut at Fairyhouse and Condon is another who was pleased to bag a high draw.

"He is only a three year old but has a fair amount of experience. It's also his first run in a handicap and there's nothing like experience in these type of races," he said.

"It looks ultra competitive and we're hopeful of a good run. He ran good enough on his first start on grass at Fairyhouse and prior to that wouldn't have done much work on grass.

"He is drawn 19 and those high numbers seemed to be the place to be in the Paddy Power Sprint recently so that might help."

Michael Halford 's Russian Soul shoulders top weight after being placed on each of his three starts so far this term, most recently chasing home Sea Siren in Listed company last week.

"He is in good from and loves that fast ground," he said. "I'd be much happier with a high draw but we'll do our best to overcome it (stall eight). He has a lot of weight but is a tough campaigner and is the class horse in the race." Yulong Baoju has jumped 12lb in the handicap after winning over course and distance. Also a three-year-old, Eddie Lynam's is less concerned about the filly's age than the fact the form of her last run has not worked out particularly well.

"She has an OK draw but has a 12lb penalty for winning the last day," he said.

"She is in very good form and while I'm not worried so much about her being just a three-year-old, the form of he win the last day hasn't worked out; she beat a nine-year-old, the third has been stuffed since and the fourth placed horse was beaten in a claimer on his next start.

"Her 12lb penalty may be the thing that will knock her out of it." Bubbly Bellini won the richly-endowed event in vastly different conditions last year and has already twice failed to show his best on quicker ground this term.

Trainer Adrian McGuinness is keeping a careful eye on the ground and warned Bubbly Bellini may bypass the race if the ground is deemed too fast.

He said: "I'm concerned about the ground but I've a runner at the Curragh on Saturday and if the ground is way, way too fast, I won't run Bubbly Bellini."

McGuinness was delighted to be drawn widest of all in stall 23, adding: "I only wish we had this plum draw the last day. We're hopeful of a big run if the ground suits him, but there is a possibility he won't run."