Aidan O'Brien back in action for 2019 as UAE Derby possibles line up at Dundalk

Aidan O’Brien has his first runners of the year at Dundalk on Friday when he saddles three in the BetVictor Patton Stakes (7.45). O'Brien won the Listed event last year with Mendelssohn, who went on to win the UAE Derby and be campaigned on dirt in the US.

Ryan Moore partners Western Australia, who finished third in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on his final start last season, while Donnacha O’Brien rides Van Beethoven, who carries a 5lb penalty for his Group 2 win in the Railway Stakes at the Curragh.

Albuquerque, a maiden winner over seven furlongs at Gowran Park in October, is the mount of Seamie Heffernan.

O’Brien said on Thursday: “All three colts are in the UAE Derby at the end of the month and we’ll see how they get on here. Western Australia progressed through last season and his last run was his best. We’re looking forward to getting him started and he seems in good form.

"Van Beethoven will be trying the distance for the first time. We’ll ride him patiently and see how things go, while Albuquerque is the least experienced of the three and, like the others, is just ready to start off.”

The Ballydoyle trio face five rivals, including the Archie Watson-trained Barys, who won a similar event at Cagnes-sur-Mer last month when blinkered for the first time.

I Can Fly: an impressive winner of the Racing Post Vincent O'Brien Ruby Stakes at KillarneyCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Moore and O'Brien are represented by I Can Fly in the four-runner fillies' conditions stakes (6.45). A winner at Group 2 and Listed level last year, I Can Fly produced her best performance when running Roaring Lion to a neck in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

The first of O'Brien's five runners on the card is U S S Michigan, a three-year-old son of War Front, in the 6f maiden (5.45). Moore's mount finished second over the same trip at the Curragh on his sole juvenile start.

O'Brien said: "He'll stay further and doesn't have a good draw [14 of 14]. We're hoping he runs well and that he comes forward from the race."

Penalty kick for Poppy?

Poppy Kay looks set to be sent off the shortest-priced favourite of 2019 so far in her match race in the finale at Doncaster, where she is rated 90lb higher than sole opponent Sussex Road.

All seven races on the card were reopened at declaration time on Thursday, and only 31 have been declared.

Poppy Kay, who won five of her 13 races when with Philip Hobbs, including a Listed mares' hurdle at Sandown, is having her first start for Olly Murphy and the 888Sport Novices' Chase (5.20) looks an ideal opportunity to register a first win over fences.

The nine-year-old, who will be ridden by Aidan Coleman, did not pull up any trees on her chasing debut at Warwick last May but has since had a wind operation.

Murphy said: "It looks a bit like a schooling session for Poppy Kay but these races are never as straightforward as that and it will be nice for her to jump round and come back in one piece.

Poppy Kay: faces just Sussex Road on Town MooCredit: Mark Cranham

"Philip did a good job with her and we've had her about five months now. She's a nervous type so this should suit her well, but you can end up with egg on your face in these match races."

Sussex Road, rated just 44, was last seen when second of two finishers behind Pacific De Baune at Warwick in November, beaten the small matter of 186 lengths.

A 46-raced maiden, Aytak Sadik's hope previously appeared in a match last October, when he finished second to 1-25 chance Jenkins at Southwell.

Sadik said: "Sussex Road is rated so low that my options are to run in these races or in a 0-100 handicap from about 3st out of the handicap.

"Unlike the other horse, he has plenty of experience of running over fences, and he's never fallen. Funnier things have happened and we'll still pick up decent prize-money."

Tate has double chances

James Tate believes he has live chances of a long-distance double at Friday's all-weather meetings at Lingfield and Newcastle, with recent easy winners Zmhar and Solar Park on follow-up missions.

The trainer could hardly be in better form on the all-weather, with three of his last six runners having won, including Zmhar, who bolted up by six lengths at Chelmsford last Wednesday.

Zmhar was making his return to action following a six-month break that day and has a quick turnaround in a Ladbrokes-backed handicap (4.10) at Lingfield.

As Zmhar is due to go up 13lb for his comeback success, this looks a good opportunity.

Tate said: "Zmhar settled well in a first time hood at Chelmsford and I told Oisin Murphy he could keep the ride even though he won too far! He has a 7lb penalty but is 6lb well in on his future mark so we're hopeful."

At Newcastle Tate runs Solar Park, who gets in on the upper limit of another Ladbrokes-backed handicap (7.30) off a mark of 75.

Like Zmhar, Solar Park is in the ownership of Saeed Manana and broke his duck in spectacular fashion when winning his maiden by 13 lengths at Wolverhampton last time.

Tate said: "Solar Park was sent off 1-8 so it wasn't the greatest race, but he must have a decent chance of a follow-up off his mark."

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