Qipco 2,000 Guineas: trainers on their contenders for the Newmarket Classic

Qipco 2,000 Guineas (Group 1) | 3yo colts & fillies | 1m | ITV/RTV

Aidan O'Brien's challenge for an 11th win in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas presents a different profile to recent seasons, with arguably no one standout among three colts that all achieved a high level of form at two.

Wembley is the anointed one in a wide-open market, thanks to the booking of Ryan Moore as well as his course form when second to stablemate St Mark's Basilica last October.

"The plan was always to come back here after the Dewhurst, when he would have preferred better ground and was maybe drawn a little out of it," said O'Brien. "Everything went well with him over the winter and through the spring. Ryan knows him well and we're very happy with him."

Wembley was something of a slow burner as a two-year-old, breaking his maiden at the fourth time of asking at Roscommon before chasing home first Thunder Moon and then St Mark's Basilica at Group 1 level.

"He got caught in bad ground a few times and he really progressed as the year went on," said O'Brien.

Van Gogh and Ryan Moore tower over Wembley and Wayne Lordan on the gallopsCredit: Patrick McCann

O'Brien has previously been quoted as saying Wembley will need to be ridden to get a mile so being drawn away from the stands in stall eight may not be too much of a hindrance for Moore, though he will be well aware that Frankie Dettori is right under the rail in 15 aboard stablemate Battleground.

"He ran very well in America," O'Brien said of Battleground, the first offspring of Arc winner Found. "He just got caught in a little bit of traffic early and maybe ended up a little bit further back than Ryan would have liked but he ran very well. He's by War Front so he should like the ground."

Van Gogh is the outsider of the three but the strapping son of American Pharoah is built to improve at three, while he is the only Group 1 winner among the trio.

"He ran on fastish ground early and finished off at Saint-Cloud on heavy but I think it was probably the way the season worked out," said O'Brien. "He's a big, good-moving horse and we always thought that he would get further than a mile and we're hoping he'll be okay."

Appleby trio kick off huge Classic day for Godolphin

Craven Stakes winner Master Of The Seas and One Ruler have traded positions near the head of the betting for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas over the last three weeks and both give Godolphin a realistic chance of starting the day off in spectacular fashion ahead of Essential Quality's Kentucky Derby bid.

One Ruler was impressive over course and distance at Group 3 level last October and dazzled in work on the Rowley Mile recently, while William Buick has remained loyal to Master Of The Seas, who showed plenty of boot to run down stablemate La Barrosa in the Craven.

"We have been delighted with how Master Of The Seas has come out of the Craven and he ticks a lot of boxes going into this," said Appleby. "He looks great physically and continues to show us his wellness.

One Ruler (left of picture) found only Mac Swiney too strong for him in the Vertem Futurity Trophy on ground Charlie Appleby considered much softer than idealCredit: Edward Whitaker

"One Ruler's preparation has gone great and it’s an exciting ride for James [Doyle] to pick up. We are looking forward to getting him going as a three-year-old.

"We were actually slightly concerned about soft ground before he won the Autumn Stakes and it was testing at Doncaster. We have no concerns about returning to a quicker surface."

Naval Crown will be the mount of Adam Kirby and Appleby believes his defeat of Master Of The Seas in February has earned him the right to line up.

He added: "We put some thought into whether to run Naval Crown as well but feel that his win over Master Of The Seas at Meydan is a strong piece of form. He certainly doesn't look out of place in the field."

Joseph O'Brien: Thunder Moon the right type for Guineas

Thunder Moon has a length and three-quarters to find with Wembley on their Dewhurst run but, like his father, Joseph O'Brien will certainly be looking forward to getting the son of Zoffany back on a fast track.

"I think he came out of the race with a lot of credit and he travelled very well through the run down to the furlong marker," said O'Brien. "He quickened up well and just got run out of it in the last half a furlong or so. We thought it was a great run and we thought with better ground we'd get closer to the principals and that’s what we’re hoping might happen at the weekend."

As with all of the Irish-trained challengers bar Jim Bolger's Poetic Flare – the winner of the Leopardstown trial on unseasonably good ground – Thunder Moon comes here without a prep run.

National Stakes hero Thunder Moon: 'a mature, pacy type' according to Joseph O'BrienCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"We're excited and we think he's the right type of horse for the race," said O'Brien. "He's a mature, pacey type and we think a mile is probably going to be a good trip for him so we’re excited."

What they say

Jane Chapple-Hyam, trainer of Albadri
The owners have been able to buy a horse for 15,000gns that can run in the Saudi Derby and the 2,000 Guineas. His last run was disappointing but Hollie [Doyle] hasn't lost faith in him and we're there to give it a go.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Chindit
He's a very attractive colt and I get the impression he might have needed that first run, our horses always do. It looked like he wanted the mile and he only got going late on, and they went pretty quick. The track is an obvious concern because he's done all his winning on a flat course but I'm just hoping it was the ground that caught him out in the Dewhurst last season.

Emily Scott, racing manager for Amo Racing, co-owners of Devilwala
He surprised a few people when he was fourth in the Dewhurst and he went to the Breeders' Cup. He ran a reasonable race in the Craven on his comeback when he probably needed the run and we think he deserves his chance on form.

Roger Varian, trainer of Legion Of Honour
We think quite a lot of this horse and I’m sure he was only semi-ready at Newcastle, when he hadn’t really come to himself. It was a good effort behind a solid horse and we think our guy has improved bundles for the run. He’s trained super going into the race and we;re going to find out plenty. He’s quite exciting and very much under the radar but his work is pretty high-calibre so hopefully he’ll outrun his odds.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Lucky Vega
He seems to be in great form. It's his first run of the season and we're very happy with him. We're going to find out whether he stays or not on Saturday.

Mutasaabeq: was supplemented for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas on MondayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Charlie Hills, trainer of Mutasaabeq
I've been delighted with the way in which he's come out of his Newmarket win. He has trained well since, and he's got a good draw in stall 12. He's had two runs on that track, and we know he handles it well which is a big plus going into a Guineas. He's facing a lot better competition now, but I'm very happy with him.

Alastair Donald, racing manager for King Power Racing, owners of Mystery Smiles
Whether he's better at seven or a mile we're still learning but we felt he would improve for the run in the Craven and I think he'll run a solid race. If he could nick a place that would be great.

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3.00 Newmarket: substance over style sums up the Jockey Club Stakes protagonists

3.40 Newmarket: read the form as well as the runes to unravel Ballydoyle's 2,000 Guineas hand (Members' Club)

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