The fillies' Classic lowdown: will Happily put a smile on Ryan Moore's face?

3.35 Newmarket
Qipco 1,000 Guineas | 1m | Group 1 | 3yo fillies | ITV/RUK

Aidan O'Brien, who won his ninth 2,000 Guineas with Saxon Warrior on Saturday, and Ryan Moore will jet in from Kentucky for their Qipco 1,000 Guineas bid with Happily, who is favourite to give the master trainer a fifth win in the fillies' Classic and her jockey a fourth.

Happily was a dual Group 1 winner last season, following up her Moyglare Stud Stakes success by taking on and beating the colts in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

The ante-post favourite will be making her reappearance on her first start since trailing in last in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in November when she encountered traffic problems in the home straight.

Virginia Waters (2005), Homecoming Queen (2012), Minding (2016) and Winter a year ago all won the race for O'Brien and he reports Happily, a sister to Classic winners Gleneagles and Marvellous, in ripe order for this test.

O'Brien said: "Since the start of the season it's always been the plan to run Happily in the Guineas.

"She did very well last year and she's in good form and ready to start off. It's her first run of the year, and she will improve for the run, but we're happy with her."

Three of O'Brien's winners of the Classic – Minding being the exception – beat shorter-priced stablemates and there are three chances of that happening again, with I Can Fly, Sarrocchi and Sizzling joining Happily in the line-up.

Minimum of two juvenile runs is key to 1,000 Guineas success

I Can Fly finished third in Leopardstown's 1,000 Guineas Trial last month, a race three of O'Brien's winners of this race contested prior to Classic success at Newmarket.

O'Brien said: "We were happy with I Can Fly's run at Leopardstown. She ran very well on ground that was too testing for her and she's come on nicely since. Stepping up to a mile on better ground should suit her.

"Sarrocchi was behind I Can Fly at Leopardstown and we think she has progressed while the same applies to Sizzling, who ran fourth in the Salsabil Stakes at Navan last month."

Happily prosAchieved more than any of her rivals at two and already a dual Group 1 winner, once over the Guineas trip

Happily consThe lack of a run this season may tell against her

I Can Fly prosComes from same Leopardstown trial contested by three of her trainer's four winners of this Classic, and up in trip has potential to step up on previous efforts

I Can Fly ConsBare form unlikely to be good enough, so significant improvement needed

Has Buick made right decision?

Soliloquy and Wild Illusion are so hard to split that jockeys William Buick and James Doyle line up in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas both believing they are on the best filly in the race.

It is the ideal mindset for Charlie Appleby as he seeks to deliver a first victory in the race for the stable since 2011 when Blue Bunting triumphed when he was assistant to Mahmood Al Zarooni.

Last autumn Wild Illusion was Godolphin's leading Classic hopeful after she captured the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac, but last month Soliloquy overtook her with an impressive winning return to action in the Nell Gwyn Stakes.

Making all the running, she beat Altyn Orda by a length and three- quarters, winning so well that she was supplemented for the Classic and became the pick of stable jockey William Buick, although it was not an easy decision. James Doyle rides Wild Illusion.

"It was a hard choice for William," said Appleby. "Soliloquy is a work filly. She impressed us three weeks before the Nell Gwyn. Then she did what she did in the Nell Gwyn. We have asked serious questions of her since then.

Watch: Soliloquy streak clear of Altyn Orda to win the Nell Gwyn Stakes

"William sat on both fillies but the difficulty he had is he has never ridden Wild Illusion in a race. She's not a work horse so he is going off what he felt at home and on the track. It's the right move for him.

"James has ridden Wild Illusion in all starts. He's been a Group 1 victor on her and knows what she can do. He's going out there with the mindset he is potentially on the best filly and so is William. We have two positives going out there."

Soliloquy and William Buick win the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn from Altyn Orda and Eirene (green and yellow colours) at Newmarket on WednesdayCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Wild Illusion won the Boussac on soft ground but Appleby is happy to run her on the drying Rowley Mile.

"Wild Illusion has won on good to firm," he said. "She just has an action that suggests she would be more comfortable with cut in the ground. We're very lucky to have two lovely Dubawis going into a Classic."

Soliloquy pros Impressive winner of the Nell Gwyn

Soliloquy consUntested at Group 1 level

Wild Illusion prosClass proven with Marcel Boussac win

Wild Illusion consPreference for soft ground and going drying out

Burke bullish about Laurens's chance

Neither Karl Burke nor PJ McDonald is accustomed to Guineas glory but both have the talent to change that, as very possibly does the filly to which their hopes are pinned.

It was over the course and distance of the Qipco 1,000 Guineas that Laurens and McDonald beat September in a finish of bobbing heads to the Fillies' Mile.

Prior to that the John Dance-owned Yorkshire star had landed the May Hill Stakes, taking her career record to three wins from four starts. Burke believes Laurens could now make that four from five.

"It's a bold shout but, yes, with luck in running she can win it," he said.

"I'm confident she's better than last year and if she walks into the paddock looking as well as she has for the last week I'll be very happy. She looks fantastic and I couldn't be happier with her."

Similar optimism comes from former jump jockey McDonald, who last year rode 128 Flat winners.

Laurens just edged out September in the Fillies' MileCredit: Mark Cranham

"I'm very excited but also pretty chilled out," he said.

"In both the May Hill and Fillies' Mile she had to battle but she didn't shy away from that on either occasion. She has the will to win, which is a massive help."

McDonald added: "I'm very confident, but at the same time this experience is an unknown to me.

Watch: Laurens denys September in thrilling finish to Fillies' Mile

"Laurens is the best horse I've ridden and her home work has been spot on, but because I've not been in this situation in a Guineas before I don't know if what she's been doing is good enough for the Guineas. That's the exciting bit."

Pros Proven on the track and must go close if trainer is right about her having improved

ConsUnproven on ground as quick as that she is likely to face

McCreery and Lee chase Classic first

There has been money this week for the Willie McCreery-trained Liquid Amber, who carries the Flaxman Holdings colours of the Niarchos family, successful in the 1,000 Guineas with Miesque 31 years ago.

McCreery and jockey Billy Lee will be chasing their first Classic success with the wide-margin winner of a Curragh Group 3 last season.

The owners' racing manager Alan Cooper said: "We are always very much guided by the trainer and Willie's objective for a long time has been to come here.

"Ideally he would have liked to have given her a run this spring but the ground in Ireland has been so awful. Even so, she is fit, well and goes there with a good chance in an open race."

Varian double-handed

Roger Varian mounts a twin challenge, comprised of Nell Gwyn Stakes second Altyn Orda and Madeline, who on her last start finished in front of Happily at the Breeders' Cup – albeit when passing the post last but one.

With Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's retained rider Andrea Atzeni claimed for Madeline, Frankie Dettori comes in for the mount on Altyn Orda.

Altyn Orda will on this occasion be ridden by Frankie DettoriCredit: Mark Cranham

"Altyn Orda has only ever run at Newmarket, so she is certainly well versed under these conditions," said Varian.

"I was delighted with her reappearance and she shaped like she will improve for the extra furlong and a stronger gallop. She obviously needs to step forward again but I don’t think we’ve seen the best of her yet and she should run very well."

Varian added: "Madeline was a tough and hardy two-year-old who improved with virtually every run last season.

"She had a nightmare passage at the Breeders’ Cup, but the way she finished her races otherwise suggested she could get a mile as a three-year-old. She’s in good form."

Sir Gareth Edwards: part owner of 1,000 Guineas contender Dan's DreamCredit: David Rogers (Getty Images)

All for a good cause

Charity will be the beneficiary of any money won by Dan's Dream, a £30,000 supplementary entry after she won the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury.

The filly, whose owners include sporting legends Sir Ian Botham and Sir Gareth Edwards in a venture designed to raise money for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation, which funds research into finding a cure for paralysis, has already exceeded expectations.

Sporting legends Botham and Edwards eye Classic glory with Dan's Dream

She will be trainer Mick Channon's 23rd runner in a race in which he has endured plenty of bad luck. Music Show finished first on the wrong side of the track but sixth overall in 2010, Nahoodh got no run when fifth in 2008 and Queen's Logic was scratched on the day of the race when favourite in 2002.

Steven Smith, part-owner and breeder of the filly at his Hunscote Stud, said: "She's an interesting horse because she has huge speed and we've always kind of seen her as a six-, maybe seven-furlong horse. I never thought she would necessarily get a mile.

"She stayed the trip easily at Newbury where the time was the same as the James Garfield race. If she turns up at her best and has a clear run it will take good horses to beat her. It's lovely to have a live chance."

Anna Nerium - Tom Marquand wins the bet365 European Free Handicap ©cranhamphoto.comCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Richard Hannon has three shots at landing his first 1,000 Guineas headed by Anna Nerium, the winner of the Free Handicap by three lengths.

She is joined by Billesdon Brook, who finished fourth behind Soliloquy in the Nell Gwyn and Vitamin, who beat Soliloquy when she last ran in a Newmarket novice stakes last August.

Hannon said: "Anna Nerium is fine, in good nick and won well. Billesdon Brook probably needed it a bit last time and Vitamin is a bit of a madam but has ability."

Sponsors praying for a Worship win

The sponsors are represented by big outsider Worship, who tackles the 1,000 Guineas having won a 6f Kempton novice event in December.

Oisin Murphy's mount has not run since then but trainer David Simcock has expressed the view the filly could develop more into a sprinter than miler.

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