RACING:PAT SMULLEN has picked up the choice spare ride on board Born To Sea in Saturday's Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh as trainer John Oxx goes double-handed in pursuit of a first win in the first classic of the Irish season with both Sea The Stars's half-brother and Takar.

As retained jockey in Ireland to the Aga Khan, Johnny Murtagh is committed to team up with the Tetrarch winner Takar who is a 5 to 1 shot in some ante-post lists for the Guineas.

Born To Sea is almost double that price in some betting shows after a disappointing effort in the Newmarket Guineas earlier in the month but Oxx is taking a novel approach to curbing the headstrong tendencies the colt showed in England and will run Born To Sea in a hood.

“We learned very little at Newmarket. He just took off, ran very free in a slowly-run first furlong and after two furlongs we knew he was finished,” Oxx said yesterday.

“Since then we have been working him in a hood and a cross-noseband in order to help him settle better and he will wear a hood on Saturday.

“Unlike in England where they are used more commonly, and hoods can be declared, in Ireland we have to declare him in blinkers which is kind of ridiculous. It’s got nothing to do with vision. It’s used to cover their ears because some horses don’t like a lot of wind. I think the rules are likely to be changed soon but not in time for this,” he added.

The best-known recent example of a hood being used has been on Frankel’s brother Noble Mission on whom Henry Cecil has used the equipment a number of times this season.

Born To Sea has his own famous relation in Sea The Stars and with Murtagh committed to Takar, Oxx has turned to an old ally.

“Pat used to be second jockey to Johnny here when he was a youngster. He hasn’t ridden for us in a while but then he is kept pretty busy by Dermot Weld,” he said.

With ground conditions drying out at the Curragh, the local trainer expects the going to suit both Born To Sea and Takar.

“Takar is going nicely and I thought he quickened impressively on terrible ground in the Tetrarch. He should be much happier on better ground. We think he is good but we will find out on Saturday what level of ability he has. With both him and Born To Sea we still really don’t know,” Oxx added.

The 2,000 Guineas is the sole home classic that the trainer has yet to win in his illustrious career to date.