Grade 1 winner Deauville drops in class for Meld Stakes

8.00 Leopardstown
ICON Meld Stakes (Group 3) | 1m1f | 3yo+ | ATR

Deauville, placed in Group 1 company on his last two starts, drops in grade for the Group 3 Icon Meld Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday evening, when he will face four rivals including The Grey Gatsby.

A Grade 1 winner in the US last year, Deauville finished third behind Ribchester and Mutakayyef in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on his most recent start last month.

The four-year-old is best suited by good ground or quicker and connections will be hoping conditions do not deteriorate for the son of Galileo, who will be ridden by Donnacha O'Brien for the first time.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "He came out of Ascot well and seems in good form. He's a consistent horse who relishes the ground good or faster, so we're hoping they don't get much rain. The better it is, the more he'll like it."

The Grey Gatsby, who has not won since landing the Irish Champion Stakes at this track in September 2014, was having his first run since joining Dermot Weld when finishing fourth in the Group 3 International Stakes at the Curragh earlier this month.

The six-year-old will wear a visor for the first time and Weld said on Wednesday: "The Grey Gatsby is very well. I'm happy with him but I hope the rain keeps away."

The Grey Gatsby: popular grey will wear a visor for the first time on his second start for Dermot WeldCredit: Alain Barr

Multiple Listed winner Brendan Brackan, who also has a Group 3 victory to his name, landed the Listed Glencairn Stakes over a mile at the track last month. The consistent eight-year-old's trainer, Ger Lyons, is also represented by Tennessee Wildcat.

Moonlight Magic, a course and distance winner at two, will be seeking a first win since landing the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial early last season.

The Jim Bolger-trained colt finished one and a half lengths in front of The Grey Gatsby when third in the International Stakes at the Curragh on his most recent start.

The next race on the card, the Listed Stanerra Stakes (8.30), sees Lambourn trainer Charlie Hills take on the home team, as he saddles the only British runner in the shape of Moorside.

An all-weather winner last season, the four-year-old, who is the mount of Pat Smullen in the 1m6f event, ran in the Ascot Stakes at the royal meeting last time.

"We decided to drop her back in distance as she didn't stay the trip in the Ascot Stakes," Hills said of the Khalid Abdullah-owned filly.

Joseph O'Brien, who landed the prize with Arya Tara, ridden by his sister, Ana, a year ago, is represented by Ruby Gates, the mount of Wayne Lordan.