'I can't give you a negative' – Appleby bullish about Masar's 2,000 Guineas bid

Charlie Appleby is full of optimism that runway bet365 Craven Stakes winner Masar can deliver another breathtaking performance in Saturday's Qipco 2,000 Guineas.

The Godolphin colt, who claimed the key Guineas trial by nine lengths, is jostling for second favouritism with Saxon Warrior behind market leader Gustav Klimt, but Appleby says he can find no negatives to his colt's chances.

"I have been pleased with his preparation and he's come out of the Craven in good order – I can't give you a negative," the trainer said.

"The way he galloped down into the Dip in the Craven was very good, he handled it well. He's very athletic. I'm very happy where we are with him."

Qipco 2,000 Guineas card & betting

The 2,000 Guineas line-up: Cardsharp, Elarqam, Expert Eye, Gustav Klimt, Headway, James Garfield, Masar, Murillo, Nebo, Raid, Rajasinghe, Roaring Lion, Saxon Warrior, Tip Two Win

Masar has been drawn closest to the stands' side rail in 14, with Aidan O'Brien-trained pair Gustav Klimt and Saxon Warrior housed in five and nine respectively.

"He made all last time out but ideally we would like to take a lead," said Appleby. "He's a very versatile horse – he can make the running but has also been dropped in behind horses. We will play it by ear from stall 14 and leave it up to William [Buick] as to where he feels the pace might be."

Appleby, who also has two fancied runners in Wild Illusion and Soliloquy for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas on Sunday, added: "Masar is a horse that we always loved as a two-year-old. It was unfortunate how it panned out for him at the Breeders’ Cup but we put a line through that and we knew not long after the gates opened out in Dubai that dirt was not the surface for him.

"Based on what we saw in the Craven, we must go into Saturday’s race hoping that he is a serious contender. It’s an exciting weekend for the team and we hope that Masar has a decent chance."

Masar will face 13 rivals in the Newmarket Classic after O'Brien opted not to declare US Navy Flag.

The trainer, whose team is completed by Murillo, hinted on Wednesday the champion two-year-old would go for the French Guineas instead, and he was one of three, along with Hey Gaman and Without Parole, not to feature from the five-day stage.

With Ballydoyle number-one Ryan Moore crossing the Atlantic to ride Mendelssohn in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Seamie Heffernan will partner favourite Gustav Klimt and O'Brien's son Donnacha O'Brien has been called up for Saxon Warrior. Wayne Lordan will ride Murillo.

On other significant jockey bookings, Qatar Racing's number-one Oisin Murphy has opted for Roaring Lion with Martin Harley on Raid.

Gustav Klimt led the betting on Thursday at 5-2 with Saxon Warrior and Masar available at 5-1 and the unbeaten Elarqam a best-priced 11-2.

The ground on Thursday was good to soft, good in places. Clerk of the course Michael Prosser expects it to keep drying before Saturday.

He said on Thursday: "We had 4mm of rain on Wednesday and it has dried out a bit today. I expect the ground to be good, good to soft tomorrow [Friday] and on Saturday to start the meeting on spot-on good ground.

"The wind speeds are not forecast to be as strong as at the Craven so it will not dry out as swiftly. It is forecast to be dry throughout and getting progressively warmer ending with 23C on Sunday for the 1,000 Guineas."

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