'He looks super and he's a horse I love' - key 2,000 Guineas Trial quotes

Ballylinch Stud "Red Rocks" 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes | 7f | Listed | 3yo | TG4/RTV

This may be a 2,000 Guineas trial in name but it has failed to live up to that billing.

Gustav Klimt went on to be competitive in Group 1s after he landed the prize in 2018, finishing runner-up in the St James's Palace Stakes, but he never won another race.

Neither did 2019 winner Never No More or last year's winner California Ten who was subsequently sold to Hong Kong. That recent tale of woe looks sure to be rewritten in 2021.

The highest-rated runner in the line-up is Monaasib with a mark of 111 and he brings the best form into the race without any shadow of a doubt. He hit the basement price of 1.01 on Betfair in the Beresford on his final start at two only to be collared in the final few strides by Derby favourite High Definition.

Monaasib: top prospect for the Kevin Prendergast teamCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

There is no reason to think he won't continue his progression at three, but quicker ground is an unknown. He did win his maiden on good to yielding, and it was similarly described for the Beresford but if Leopardstown continues to dry out it might not be the surface he excels best on.

A Case Of You is another who excelled on soft ground as a juvenile, but he glided across the sand at Dundalk to win impressively on his return to action last month and the two horses he beat finished first and second in a sprint handicap at Cork next time. He has the benefit of a recent run and looks a massive player.

Aidan O'Brien has won this Listed prize for four of the last five years, and Ryan Moore is on recent Curragh maiden winner Horoscope rather than Merchants Quay and Matchless. All three would appear to have plenty on their plate.

What they say

Ken Condon, trainer of Laws Of Indices
He had good form as a two-year-old and we'll learn a bit more about him here with regard to what his best trip is.

Ado McGuinness, trainer of A Case Of You
He's in good form and he looks super. His form is rock-solid and the horses he beat at Dundalk were first and second at Cork the other day. He's a horse I love and this will tell us a lot more about him.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Ace Aussie
You can just put a line through his last run in the Beresford. He's a fine horse and we like him. He doesn't have a great draw, though.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Horoscope, Matchless and Merchants Quay
Horoscope won nicely at the Curragh and Ryan [Moore] thought he would definitely handle better ground. Matchless won a maiden at Listowel last September on his second start and is working nicely. We always thought Merchants Quay was a very good horse. He's ready now and he's done very well, very strong physically.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Magnanimous and Snapraeterea
Magnanimous did well for us last season, progressing with every run. We're looking forward to getting him started. Snapraeterea progressed all of last year too but he would be better suited to slightly softer ground.

Kevin Prendergast, trainer of Monaasib
He ran a good race in the Beresford and was just mugged on the line. He seems to have come on nicely from last year, but I'm a bit worried about the ground for him. If I'm happy with the ground and he does run, I think he will be very hard to beat.

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