Camelot: an emphatic winner of the Racing Post Trophy last year
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Large field no concern for Camelot - O'Brien
A BIG field should pose no problems for Qipco 2,000 Guineas favourite Camelot, trainer Aidan O'Brien said on the eve of Saturday's Classic at Newmarket.
The long-time ante-post market leader, now a general 7-4 shot, faced just four rivals in his maiden before beating the same number home whenscoring impressively in the Racing Post Trophy.
O'Brien said: "He's a straightforward horse and a relaxed horse at home. Obviously the bigger the field the more dangers there are, but I don't think it's going to be a problem.
"If the horse wasn't going to be ready for the Guineas we didn't want to be forcing him so we were letting him tell us really. He's been coming along nicely and everything has gone smoothly so far."
Both of the colt's starts to date have been over a mile and his future is expected to lie over further. Speaking on British Champions Series TV, O'Brien added : "I'd imagine so [he'll get further]. His two runs were over a mile last year and we're using this as a start-off race."
O'Brien's son Joseph, who takes the ride, said: "It's going to be his first run of the year so he should improve from it, but he's been doing everything nicely. He won very impressively at Doncaster and was in control all the way.
"I never had to ask him a question. He's a very uncomplicated horse, he takes no work at home. He's a joy to train, I suppose, and very easy to ride. He has it all."
O'Brien also runs 12-1 shot Power and on his chances, the trainer added: "He started off at six furlongs and went up to seven. Hehasn't run over a mile yet, so he's a little bit different to Camelot. He's well and he's a big, hardy horse.
"I don't think a mile will be a problem, but he's a horse who shows plenty of early speed in his work, so I'm not sure how much further than a mile he'll get. In his races he has a lazy way of racing and comes home well, so it will be interesting."
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