'No way she'll be disgraced' - Brian O'Rourke relishing Group 2 test for Banshee

Lambourn trainer Brian O'Rourke, who saddled his first winner when Banshee struck at Yarmouth last month, will not waste much time wondering how good she is as he plans to field her in Thursday's Cazoo May Hill Stakes at Doncaster.

The Group 2, which takes place on the second day of the St Leger meeting, has a rich roll of honour and its best winner in recent years was Laurens, who went on to record six victories at the highest level.

Banshee, who runs in the Stradivarius silks of owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen, is set to start as an outsider, but O'Rourke insists she is worth her place in the line-up.

Cazoo May Hill Stakes entries

"We've given her an entry and will see what happens, but she's come out of the race at Yarmouth really well," said O'Rourke, who had his first runners in May.

Banshee runs in the same colours as superstar stayer Stradivarius (above) for owner-breeder Bjorn NielsenCredit: Edward Whitaker

"She'll be reassessed by the handicapper on Tuesday and we feel she'll get a mark of 80, if he's kind, or 82, so she won't be the lowest-rated horse in the race and there's plenty of improvement in this filly – we've always thought quite a bit of her.

"Mentally she's beginning to get it right and we put the cheekpieces on her at Yarmouth because she's such a laidback character and a complete sweetheart – she wasn't doing a tap in front even with the cheekpieces on.

"We feel there's plenty in the tank and the ground will be quick, which will suit, while she'll be one of only a few who have won over the mile trip. A strong-run mile will be right up her alley so we want a true, honest pace – we don't want a crawl and then quicken."

The John and Thady Gosden-trained Inspiral is also due to run in the May Hill and she heads the early betting for next year's Qipco 1,000 Guineas and Cazoo Oaks.

Inspiral: filly is an exciting prospectCredit: Mark Cranham

"With Banshee's pedigree, getting black type would be so valuable," added O'Rourke. "She won't disgrace herself, no way."

O'Rourke ran a pre-training business before taking out his licence and hopes he can unearth some more potential Pattern horses before the season ends.

He said: "We've got some backend, well-bred horses and we want to be training winners and training winners of big races. We want to be at the big dances.

"We're running the pre-training, which is going very well, alongside the training, where we want to build up the numbers.

"We've nine in training, including a lovely unraced two-year-old, a Frankel colt belonging to Rockcliffe Stud out of a Group 2-winning mare. He's called Xian Warrior and is showing all the right signs at home, and could be out in the next month or so, while I've two lovely fillies for Prince Sultan of SBA Racing, who is another loyal supporter."

More to read:

Inspiral 16-1 joint-favourite for 1,000 Guineas after Listed success

Laurens: the gritty northern lass who blossomed into a Classic winner

Mojo Star in 'brilliant form' and set for St Leger despite weekend Windsor entry

Yesyes cut to 25-1 for the St Leger after Egan nous helps land Chester Stakes

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