AIDAN O'BRIEN, successful with Virginia Waters in 2005, saddles Kitty Matcham and Savethisdanceforme in tomorrow's stanjamesuk.com 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
O'Brien said: "Kitty is in good form and while it is her first run of the season, I am happy with her. Savethisdanceforme had a run in the Curragh and was just pipped at the post. I have been happy with her since then. She handled soft ground that day and does not mind it. Kitty is out of a Sadler's Wells mare so wouldn't mind a bit of cut - good ground is not as important to them as the colts."
O'Brien's compatriot Jim Bolger will also saddle two horses in Lush Lashes and Saoirse Abu as he seeks back-to-back wins after Finsceal Beo hit the target 12 months ago. "They're both very well and I wouldn't like to split them," said Bolger.
Godolphin rely on Laureldean Gale but racing manager Simon Crisford admits her nervy temperament is a minor concern. "She boiled over before the race at Longchamp (last year) and we've spent the winter trying to settle her down," he said.
Chris Richardson on the other hand is licking his lips in anticipation with the Cheveley Park Stud-owned pair of Infallible and Spacious ready to go. The John Gosden-trained Infallible easily won the Nell Gwyn last month, while James Fanshawe's Spacious has been supported in the ante-post markets throughout the spring.
Richardson, managing director at Cheveley Park, said: "Everything's on target, both fillies are well and it's time for the trainers to do the talking. We've done our bit in producing two for this Classic, which is great, and although Natagora is going to be very hard to beat, we would hope to be in the shake-up.
"Infallible had done nothing wrong and had a good preparation but she was very impressive last time and that win gave us plenty of optimism. "Seeing Cesare win so well at Ascot also offered us a bit of a boost for Spacious (whom he works with).
"She just needed a bit of time as she was a bit wintry and these races come early enough for a lot of them in April. But she seems to have caught up and we go there with two very good chances. I couldn't pick between them."
