As the National Hunt season ends, the classic campaign starts with a weekend vengeance at Newmarket where Aidan O'Brien will pursue a seventh Qipco 2, 000 Guineas success with both Gleneages and Ol' Man River.
Joseph O’Brien aims to make 9st on Ol’ Man River after a Spring spent fighting weight but the new order at Coolmore looks to be confirmed by Ryan Moore’s presence on board the apparent stable number one Gleneagles.
Moore will be on board David Wachman’s Legatissimo in tomorow’s 1,000 Guineas, with O’Brien on his father’s Qualify, but it is the prospect of a new cutaway rail up the famous Rowley Mile which appears to be currently exercising the English jockey’s thoughts.
The cutaway move has been introduced to combat the classic fields splitting, as controversially happened in last year’s 2,000 Guineas, but it hasn’t impressed Moore.
“If they race up the stands rails, the horses drawn on the far side will probably be at a disadvantage. I’m drawn 16, towards the near side, it might be an advantage to me: but I still don’t think it’s a good idea,” he reported.
Gleneagles and the top French hope Territories are closely matched on Lagadere form from last year but at a big price, the other French hope, Ride Like The Wind, who beat Territories as a juvenile, could be a value option to pounce late under Maxim Guyon.
Jim Bolger’s Lucida is rated a likely favourite to emulate 2007 winner Finsceal Beo in the 1,000, a race with three other Irish hopes including Qualify who will try to give O’Brien a third win in the race.
Legatissimo jumped into the reckoning with a good win at Gowran last weekend but this is a race that can see the Newbury runnerup Jellicle Bell step up significantly from her Newbury return when runner up to Redstart.