CONNECTIONS of Famous Name on Thursday reiterated that they would not risk the Dansili colt in Saturday's Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas if ground conditions were too quick.

While several parts of Ireland got as much as 25 to 30 millimetres of rain on Wednesday night and into Thursday, just 3mm fell on the Curragh, which resulted in watering resuming.

The Dermot Weld-trained Famous Name made a favourable impression when beating Moiqen by four lengths in the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial on yielding ground last month.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Famous Name's owner Khalid Abdullah said on Thursday: "Our intention all being well is to run but if it was fast or goodto firm I don't think we would. I heard it was raining three miles away from the Curragh this morning so we're just hoping that rain belt moves over the Curragh because his participation is in the lap of the gods."

Eight colts were declared for the first Irish Classic of the season, headed by the first three in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, Henrythenavigator - about whom trainer Aidan O'Brien said earlier this week "would only run if the ground was good to firm" - New Approach and Stubbs Art.  
Henrythenavigator is joined by stablemates Jupiter Pluvius and Windsor Palace with Breeders' Cup Turf juvenile winner Nownownow and Sammy The Snake completing the field.

More rain is forecast according to the Curragh's manager Paul Hensey but whether it arrives or not is not certain.

He said on Thursday: "It seems to be raining everywhere bar the Curragh today. We only had three millimetres of rain over night while some other parts of Ireland got between 25 and 30 millimetres we hear. This forced us to start watering the round and the straight course again this morning as it was almost firm at that stage.

"The Met office told us we could possibly get another five millimetres of rain later so we'll see but our objective is to ensure safe ground over the weekend."

The race sponsors eased out New Approach to 11-8 as they reported support for his Newmarket conqueror who is now a 7-4 chance to land the €400,000 contest.

In other Curragh news trainer Brian Meehan reported that "no decision has been made" on whether Red Rocks will take up his engagement in Sunday's Tattersall's Gold Cup, after the 2006 Breeders Cup Turf winner was put through his paces at Manton on Thursday morning.