THERE could be as many as eight Irish-trained runners competing in the Hong Kong International Races on Sunday, December 10th at Sha Tin.

Six horses trained by Aidan O’Brien have been invited to take part, along with one from both Dermot Weld and Willie Mullins.

The O’Brien-trained Highland Reel is the 3/1 favourite with most bookmakers for the Vase, a race he won in 2015 and almost won again last year. This will be his final race before he retires to Coolmore Stud.

Stable companion Idaho is also entered but runs this weekend in the Japan Cup, for which he is a 25/1 chance.

Willie Mullins’ Melbourne Cup third Max Dynamite (10/1) has been nibbled in the betting for this €1.8 million race over a mile and a half, while the Weld-trained Eziyra is an intriguing 16/1 contender following two smooth Group 3 wins at home.

Talismanic, who had Highland Reel less than a length back in third when winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf earlier this month, is as big as 7/1 to confirm that form at Sha Tin for the Andre Fabre-Godolphin team.

O’Brien has Deauville and War Decree engaged in the 10-furlong Cup. Both are rated outsiders at around 12/1 behind local star Werther (see page A32). Andrew Balding’s Group 1-winning filly Blond Me, Harry Dunlop’s Robin Of Navan and Sir Michael Stoute’s Champion Stakes runner-up Poet’s Word are all expected runners in this €2.8 million contest.

Roly Poly and Lancaster Bomber could represent O’Brien in the Mile. The market here is headed by last year’s winner Beauty Only, an Irish-bred who began his racing in Italy before being exported to the Far East.

British Champions Sprint winner Librisa Breeze steps back up in trip to compete in the Mile and he’ll be joined by the David Simcock-trained Lightning Spear.

The Sprint has never gone the way of a UK or Irish raider and The Tin Man (James Fanshawe) is this year’s only entry from these shores.

EUROPEAN RUNNERS

IN HONG KONG ON

DECEMBER 10th

CUP (10f): Deauville, Poet’s Word, Robin Of Navan, Garlingari, War Decree, Blond Me

VASE (12f): Highland Reel, Talismanic, Idaho Tiberian, Chemical Charge, Danehill Kodiac, Max Dynamite, Smart Call, Eziyra.

SPRINT (6f): Signs Of Blessing, The Tin Man, The Right Man

MILE: Librisa Breeze, Lightning Spear, Karar, Lancaster Bomber, Roly Poly,