'She's coming forward nicely' - Weld hoping Shandra fits bill in Guineas Trial

2.45 LeopardstownIrish 1,000 Guineas Trial (Group 3) | 1m, 3yo fillies | RTV

Quite an open race with some interesting fillies stepping up from winning maidens, while those with experience don't set an insurmountable bar for them to aim for.

The Ger Lyons-trained Acanella is just about the most interesting filly in the race having won her maiden impressively over 7f at this venue last month.

While she lacks experience, she shaped like a potential top-notcher on that occasion and there should be loads of improvement to come.

Dermot Weld's Shandra fits a similar profile. An winner of a backend maiden at the Curragh, Shandra holds some fancy entries and looks sure to make an impact at this level, and if not on this return then at some stage this season.

Of the more experienced runners, My Generation, who had no luck in running in the recent 1,000 Guineas Trial at the track, Sense Of Style and Thinking Of You make up a strong-looking hand for Joseph O'Brien. However, Joseph's father Aidan's Joan Of Arc and More Beautiful have yet to hit the heights expected of them. Nevertheless, both fillies are still respected in what is a wide-open race.

Aidan and Joseph O'Brien: have five of the 11 runnersCredit: Patrick McCann

What they say

Paddy Twomey, trainer of Fantasy Lady
She's in good form and should have come forward plenty for her comeback run at Naas back in March. We're looking forward to running her.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Flirting Bridge
She ran well in the Salsabil Stakes, but possibly didn't quite see out the last furlong which is why we are coming back in trip here.

Donnacha O'Brien, trainer of Hazel
The little bit of rain will help her. She has always worked like a smart filly so hopefully she can improve a bit and run how she works.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Joan Of Arc and More Beautiful
We are happy with Joan Of Arc. Things didn't quite work out for her over seven furlongs last time when there was a very fast pace on, but we think the step up in trip should suit her. More Beautiful is also in good form. We think she is better than her form and the better the ground, the better chance she has.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of My Generation, Sense Of Style and Thinking Of You
The rain would be a worry for My Generation. She didn't have much luck in running in the Guineas Trial at Leopardstown the last day, but she's very well and we'll just have to see what the ground is like. Sense Of Style ran very well at Leopardstown the last day and she goes there with an each-way chance. The drop in trip will suit Thinking Of You and she has form on slowish ground, but she will need to come back to her best to be involved.

Dermot Weld, trainer of Shandra
Shandra is a very nice filly. Like a lot of mine she has been a little bit slow coming in her coat this spring, but she's coming forward nicely and I think she will run very well. I also think there will be nice improvement in her.

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