Donnacha O'Brien leaning towards Irish 1,000 Guineas with dark horse Fancy Blue

The Irish 1,000 Guineas could be the preferred target for Fancy Blue according to the two-time champion jockey Donnacha O'Brien, bidding to add to his multiple Classic successes in the saddle as a trainer in his first season holding a licence.

Unbeaten as a two-year-old, Fancy Blue is as big as 33-1 in places for the Newmarket Classic and, while plans are still up in the air to some extent, O'Brien is leaning towards a tilt at the Curragh instead.

He explained: "We will start her off at Newmarket or the Curragh but, with the way the programme is, I think the Curragh could be a better option. There are few different ways of thinking – you could go to Newmarket and then you'd have the options of Royal Ascot or maybe even the Pretty Polly Stakes. If you stay at home and run in the Irish 1,000 Guineas you could go on to the Irish Oaks after that."

O’Brien added: "We need to have a bit of a think but I'd probably be leaning towards the Irish Guineas and then the Irish Oaks but that isn't set in stone, or even nearly set in stone for that matter."

Minimal disruption to top races as HRI reveals Group-race programme for 2020

Regardless of which Guineas Fancy Blue rocks up in for O'Brien, it is likely to provide a springboard towards the Irish Oaks, the trainer revealed.

He said: "She is bred to be a middle-distance filly and whatever Guineas she starts in, that will probably be her prep run for the Oaks."

O'Brien added: "But we couldn't be happier with her and she is in great form. Obviously we were working towards the original Guineas date at Newmarket with her all along so she has plenty of work done and her work has been good.

"We just had to back off her for a week or two and, when we get closer to the race, we will step it back up again with her. But I was very happy with her work when we were building up towards the race towards the end of May so hopefully there will be plenty to look forward to with her wherever we start off."

Read more:

Naas to host first meeting back with Irish Guineas to be run on June 12 and 13

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar backs June 8 resumption for 'big economic sector'

Racing set to resume on June 1 with all-weather fixture at Newcastle

Keep up to date on the must-have news, tips, photos and more by following the Racing Post across all social channels