Racing Confidential - by the man the bookies fear

Bono marks your card for the big races ahead

"It's bubble time," says Willie Power. "Everyone thinks they have a Derby horse, but some bubbles will be burst. And some bubbles will be put on ice."

Aidan O'Brien's start to the season has been pistol-cracking, immense, and I say put some bubbles on ice and back his Alexandrova in the Musidora Stakes at York tomorrow.

And on the form he's in, who could oppose O'Brien's George Washington in the Irish 2,000 Guineas next week?

"Aidan has the stars this year," says John Oxx, trainer of the Derby winner of 2000, Sinndar, "but the rest should get the odd score up on the board too."

So one from John?

"Long term? Watch out for King In Waiting in the Irish Derby."

O'Brien's Septimus looks hot for the Derby at Epsom, but in the Dante Stakes at York on Thursday he'll face good competition from Leningrad.

"Irish racing is the most progressive in Europe," says Jim Bolger. What's the tip? "Galatee." Galatee runs tomorrow at Naas in the 7.20. I confidently predict a coup.

On today's racing, I have received confidential information that the 4.20 at Auteuil will be a walk up for Bronco. You read it here.

And on the same French track on Friday, the Irish-owned Marble Garden is virtually a foregone conclusion . . .

"You know the horse," says my old friend, the legendary trainer Dermot Weld, "Grey Swallow."

I sure do. It won big for Dermot in Hollywood Park last Saturday. And I can share with you my iron-clad conviction that when Grey Swallow steps out again, the second week of June, in the Manhattan Stakes in Belmont, New York, Dermot's steely Irish eyes will once more be smiling. Weld is the greatest Irish trainer in history and does not fly half way round the world just to top up his tan. When he tips a horse it stays tipped.

Mick Kinane rides Rob Roy in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday and I hear the champers is already on ice. It's bubble time.