Daban for 1,000 Guineas with Dabyah set for France

The racing manager involved with a third of the 18 fillies left in Sunday's Qipco 1,000 Guineas has confirmed Daban is on course for Newmarket, with Dabyah set to go to France the following weekend.

Bruce Raymond, the only man still connected to more horses in the 1,000 Guineas than Aidan O'Brien, is racing manager to Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah – owner of Daban and Dabyah – Jaber Abdullah, who owns Queen Kindly, Urban Fox's owner Saeed Manana, Dr Ali Ridha, owner of Unforgetable Filly, and Kilmah's owner Abdulla Al Mansoori.

As such, he has a better handle than most on the season's second Classic, and with five of the six due to run at this stage, Raymond could well be a spokesman in demand after the race as well as before it.

"At the moment the plan is for Daban to go to Newmarket and Dabyah to go to France," Raymond said of John Gosden's two trial winners.

Daban beat Unforgetable Filly by three-quarters of a length in the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket, while Dabyah was a length and a quarter too good for Urban Fox in the Fred Darling at Newbury.

"They've both come out of their preps in great shape," Raymond continued. "Daban did a breeze on Saturday that was good and we're happy with her. Dabyah's going to do a bit, maybe next Wednesday."

Dabyah (second left, red cap) makes light work of the Fred Darling eld to win in ne styleCredit: Edward Whitaker

While Dabyah is unlikely to run in the Guineas, her Fred Darling form line is due to be well represented, via James Tate's runner-up Urban Fox and the Richard Fahey-trained fifth Queen Kindly.

"Urban Fox is a nice filly and she's going well, I think she's got a very good chance on her Newbury run," said Raymond.

"Queen Kindly is also going to run. She disappointed at Newbury and it was all a bit unsatisfactory; we don't really know if she didn't stay. Jaber Abdullah is keen to have a go and find out if she does or not so she'll take her chance, and Gerald Mosse rides."

Raymond also thinks a lot of the Hugo Palmer-trained Unforgetable Filly, a best-priced 25-1 shot who he anticipates will finish in the first four.

Bruce Raymond: involved with six horses in the 1,000 GuineasCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"She was second in the Nell Gwyn and she's in great shape," he said. "I'm not saying she'll win, but she'll be there or thereabouts. She's got a very good chance. I'd be disappointed if she didn't run in the first four."

On Mark Johnston's Kilmah, he added: "She's also going to run and I see no reason why she wouldn't improve a bit on her last start."

William Haggas has left Sea Of Grace in the 1,000 Guineas but, like Dabyah, she is more likely to head to Deauville for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches a week on Saturday.

Haggas has left Muffri'Ha in the Group 2 Charm Spirit Dahlia Stakes, also at Newmarket on Sunday, in which she could clash with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Somehow, a winner at Gowran Park on Sunday.

Qipco 1,000 Guineas, card, form and tipping