Sounds Russian finished for the season after unfortunate Gold Cup mishap

/by

Sounds Russian will not run again this season after being brought down when running a big race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The eight-year-old had finished runner-up in both the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby and in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on his previous two starts.

Though sent off at 50-1 in the blue riband, he was in touch with the leaders at the 17th fence, only to be brought down by the fall of Ahoy Senor.

Trainer Ruth Jefferson has ruled out both the Aintree and Punchestown festivals for the consistent chaser, who has been brilliantly campaigned.

She said: “He is fine, but he is not going to be able to run again this season.

“He was just a bit sore after his race. If he didn’t go to Aintree, there wasn’t a huge amount for him, so we just thought we’d give him a bit of time to get over it and start again next season.

“He was unlucky. He jumped the fence brilliantly, but got brought down and got a bit of kicking off A Plus Tard as well, who galloped over the top of him.

“It was the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Sounds Russian started this season on a mark of 150 and opened with victory in a limited handicap at Kelso in October.

He then finished a creditable third to Grand National winner Noble Yeats in the Many Clouds at Aintree.

Jefferson feels that now on a mark of 161, options are restricted.

She added: “I suppose there are only sort of a limited number of chases you could go for. I don’t think he will go back to Kelso for the race he won last October.

“That wasn’t my initial thought, but we’ll see how he is and see what the ground is, and plot our way somewhere.

“It is very hard to know where he would have finished in the Gold Cup, really. He was a little outpaced, then came back on the bridle and then he winged the fence he got brought down at.

“Next year is a long way off, but we will have a look at races like the Gold Cup nearer the time.”

Bradley Gibbs gunning for more big-race glory at Aintree

/by

Fresh from Premier Magic’s Cheltenham Festival success, Bradley Gibbs has his eye on further big-race success at Aintree.

The trainer, who rides the horses as well as training them, steered Premier Magic to a 66-1 shock in the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase at Prestbury Park and will look to enter the winner’s enclosure again next month when Fier Jaguen attempts to extend a three-race winning run in the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase on the opening day of the Grand National Festival.

The Cheltenham-Aintree hunter chase double was last achieved by the same jockey, trainer and owner in 2015 when Nina Carberry was aboard the Enda Bolger-trained On The Fringe in the green and gold of JP McManus, while the horse would repeat the feat a year later with Jamie Codd taking over from Carberry for the Aintree segment.

Before that you have to search back to 1993 when Ron Treloggen scored aboard Reg Wilkins’ Double Silk at both meeting.

Bradley Gibbs celebrates winning The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase on Premier Magic on day four of the Cheltenham Festival
Bradley Gibbs celebrates winning The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase on Premier Magic on day four of the Cheltenham Festival (Tim Goode/PA)

However, Gibbs is optimistic he can add his name to that exclusive roll of honour with the forward-going eight-year-old, who has been in a class of his own between the flags this term.

“Fier Jaguen had done everything right so far this season,” said the Welshman.

“He’s won three opens and he’s won them all well. He looks the right type for two and a half miles. Last year I didn’t think he was quite fully seeing the three miles out, but he seems to see it out a hell of a lot better this year.

“So, I think two and a half round Aintree will be right up his street and we’ve got fingers crossed we can get a nice run out of him.

“There’s no other way to ride him other than from the front, so I’ll be going rather fast down to the first I would have thought.”

Gibbs is still coming to terms with his moment of triumph at Cheltenham earlier this month, when Premier Magic landed a blow for the British point-to-point scene against the might of Ireland and the plethora of professional handlers who run some of their elder statesman in the prestigious amateur riders’ contest.

“It still doesn’t seem real at the minute,” he continued.

“We went there last year thinking he had a nice chance and I went down the inside. I think he just got a bit of stage fright. Everything just got a bit tight and he just backed off out of it – I had only done a circuit.

“I was going to have a different mare run in it this year and she had a little issue and didn’t make it. A good mate of mine from Ireland, Jimmy Kelly – who buys all my horses for me – said put Premier Magic in there, give him one more crack and if it doesn’t work out this year, you know not to go back. That’s what we did and he obviously repaid us.”

Now thoughts turn to Aintree on April 13, where Gibbs has the chance to join the hunter chase greats.

“It would be unbelievable,” said Gibbs when asked to comprehend doing the double.

“Just to win the one is unbelievable, but I guess we’ll speak more about the double if we pull it off! Fier Jaguen goes there with a live chance so we have our fingers crossed.”

Lifetime Ambition of National victory edging closer for Harrington

/by

Jessica Harrington has captured many big races in both codes of racing, but the decorated handler could have found an appropriately-named horse to fill the Randox Grand National-shaped void in her trophy cabinet.

Lifetime Ambition is the horse in question – an eight-year-old gelding who comes alive in the spring.

Twice a winner over the larger obstacles, he won a Grade Three at Limerick at this time of year last season, before going on to chase home Capodanno in a Grade One at the Punchestown Festival.

His Aintree credentials were on show during his reappearance in November when given a sighter of the famous green spruce in the Grand Sefton and having finished an eyecatching fourth on that occasion, the rest of his campaign has been geared around a return to Merseyside on April 15.

Lifetime Ambition ridden by Sean O’Keeffe on their way to winning the tote Ten To Follow Beginners Chase at Down Royal
Lifetime Ambition ridden by Sean O’Keeffe on their way to winning the tote Ten To Follow Beginners Chase at Down Royal (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He jumped very well and I was delighted with him,” said Harrington.

“I just hope the ground is OK, he likes nice spring ground, good to soft would be fine, he doesn’t like that tacky ground though.”

Following his appearance in Liverpool, Lifetime Ambition finished second to fellow Aintree contender The Big Dog in the Troytown at Navan – giving a bold sight in front until an error at the final fence allowed his rival to pass for a three-and-a-half-length victory.

He was then a respectable third to Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan prior to Christmas and has been kept ticking over among useful company in the early stages of 2023.

All roads now lead back to Aintree where Harrington is confident he has the right attributes to thrive over the extended four-and-a-quarter-mile trip.

“He is going to definitely run in the National and Sean O’Keeffe is going to ride him. It’s all systems go.

“He’s a nice horse who stays well,” she added. “All of his form is in the spring of the year and that is when he comes into himself.

“He knows the fences, I think he will stay and he is a horse who will be up there on the front end, hopefully keeping out of trouble, and hopefully the race will get run the way he likes it.”

Harrington is one of the few trainers to do the Cheltenham Festival treble of the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase, while her National Hunt haul includes an Irish Grand National thanks to Our Duke in 2017.

Trainer Jessica Harrington will saddle Lifetime Ambition in the Randox Grand National
Trainer Jessica Harrington will saddle Lifetime Ambition in the Randox Grand National (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Grand National, however, is one that eludes her.

Despite her long career in the training ranks, it was not until 2019 she had her first runner in the big race when silver medallist Magic Of Light almost did the unthinkable and denied the great Tiger Roll at odds of 66-1.

Magic Of Light returned to Aintree much better fancied in 2021 only to unseat at the fourth, while the same year Jett blazed a trail on the front end for a long way until the petrol tank of the Sam Waley-Cohen-ridden outsider emptied at the second-last.

That small sample size though should not detract from the 76-year-old’s desire to taste success in Merseyside – a victory which would taste all the more sweeter in light of the news Harrington has been battling breast cancer.

“I would be delighted to win it, it is a race I have always wanted to win,” she said.

“Magic Of Light was my first runner in it and since then I’ve had her and Jett run in it in 2021.

“I haven’t had that many runners, but it would be lovely to win one.”

Algiers to enjoy well-deserved holiday, with long-term Breeders’ Cup aim

/by

Algiers will be held back for an autumn campaign and could be pointed towards the Breeders’ Cup following Saturday’s fine runner-up effort in the Dubai World Cup.

The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Sharmardal gelding had finished second to Missed The Cut in the Listed Churchill Stakes at Lingfield in November, before winning two Grade Two races over a mile and an extended nine furlongs at Meydan.

Back to a mile-and-a-quarter in the $12million Dubai World Cup, he was running the race of his life under big-race jockey James Doyle, who looked to have his rivals beaten turning in.

However, the 11-4 chance was run down in the final furlong by Ushba Tesoro and just held on for second from Emblem Road.

“He ran his heart out and did us all proud,” said Ed Crisford. “It was a great performance from him and he proved himself among the top dirt horses in the world.

“They just went so quick up front – they were going some serious fractions, and that set it up for the deep closers, but all credit to him to keep going.”

Having tracked Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa and outsiders Remorse and Bendoog, who had set a searching gallop, Doyle set sail for home from the final turn.

After burning them off, Algiers led a furlong and a half out, only for Yuga Kawada aboard the Noboru Tagaki-trained Japanese raider fly past in the final 110 yards.

“All the horses around him stopped fairly quickly,” added Crisford. “I think coming into the straight, we all thought he’d won, but that last furlong was excruciating.

“It wasn’t to be, but he did us all proud. It is great for the team at home. It’s not so bittersweet. If someone had said to me in December, when he had got beaten in a Listed race at Lingfield that he would finish second in a World Cup, I wouldn’t have believed it.

“He has come a long way and he will go on a holiday now.”

The Hamdan Sultan Ali Alsabousi-owned six-year-old has now won just short of £2.5m in prize-money in his 21-race career.

Though winning four of his 14 starts on turf, he has only once finished out of the first two in all seven on artificial surfaces, including three wins, and connections are keen for him to ply his trade in that sphere from now on.

“I don’t think we’ll see him on turf again and I don’t think we will see him until the end of summer at some stage,” added Crisford.

“Obviously it is early days, and we are long way from it, but you’ve got to be potentially thinking of something like a Breeders’ Cup.”

Jadoomi could make his seasonal return at Newbury
Jadoomi could make his seasonal return at Newbury (Donall Farmer/PA)

Meanwhile, the stable’s dual Group Two-winning miler Jadoomi could bid for success at the top level this term.

Having taken Goodwood’s Celebration Mile, Jadoomi followed up in the Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown in September.

He was last seen when beaten a length and a half by Bayside Boy in the Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot in October.

Crisford said: “Jadoomi is good. He is coming along. His first target would be the Lockinge at Newbury, depending on ground.

“He’s doing nicely and hopefully by mid-May he’ll be ready to go.”

Martin keeping an open mind on Good Time Jonny plans

/by

Tony Martin will wait before making plans for Good Time Jonny on the back of his scintillating victory in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The eight-year-old gave the trainer a memorable success in the three-mile Grade Three event, coming from last to first under 5lb claimer Liam McKenna.

The manner of victory was all the more remarkable, as the rider had to overcome plenty of trouble in running.

“It was an absolutely brilliant ride for a lad claiming 5lb, but then Liam is a good rider,” said Martin.

“If the horse is not travelling or not jumping, or you’re not getting a clear run, there is just no point forcing them, they won’t get home.

“He didn’t have the nicest of runs through the race. The nerve to sit and the patience he showed, it reminded me of Ruby Walsh or Davy Russell.

“He was very similar to Ruby. When the race didn’t work out, he had the patience and the brilliance to sit and let the race come to him, and not chase it.”

The Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree is among the future options being pondered, along with targets closer to home.

“He’s good, so we will just see how we are as to where we go, whether it is Liverpool, Fairyhouse or Punchestown,” added Martin.

“He will go one way or the other. I’ve been very happy with him. We’ll give him a week before making a plan.

“The horses tell us themselves. We can make a plan if we have enough time. We will see how the race affects him. All the options are there.

“We would like to get two more rolls at the dice before we let him off, but if we get one where he can show his true colours, it would be far better for him that he could do himself justice, rather than try to squeeze in two where we’d rush him.”

Tony Martin reminding everyone he is still a force
Tony Martin reminding everyone he is still a force (PA)

Martin admits he has had a few lean years, but a Cheltenham winner has certainly buoyed the yard.

“It’s hard,” said Martin. “We had bad times for a few years and were out of the place we were. If you are not keeping the ship sailing, you are not attracting owners.

“There are a few lads on side at the moment, a brilliant man gave me an order for two nice horses the other day.

“Any Cheltenham winner ranks high. It’s like when you are playing golf at the Masters, or soccer in the European Cup, Cheltenham is really the be-all and end-all in National Hunt racing, similar to Royal Ascot or the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on the Flat. Of course you rank it highly.”

Croupier and Awaal offer Crisfords chance of Lincoln gains

/by

Croupier and Awaal could mount a dual assault for the Simon and Ed Crisford team on Saturday’s Pertemps Network Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster.

The Ed Ware-owned Croupier and the Shaikh Duaj Al Khalifa-owned Awaal both hold entries in the mile event, with both having won on their final starts last term, at Chelmsford and Redcar respectively.

While Croupier is as big as 25-1 for the first headline event of the Flat season, Awaal is a general 5-1 shot – although ground conditions will determine whether they line up on Town Moor or not.

Ed Crisford said: “We have two good chances, but we are obviously on weather-watch. There is a lot of rain due, which will be good for Awaal. We will just have to see how the next few days go.

“Croupier should be sneaking in off bottom weight nearly, but both of them have the right sort of profile for a Lincoln horse.”

Ed and Simon Crisford could be double-handed in the Lincoln
Ed and Simon Crisford could be double-handed in the Lincoln (John Walton/PA)

Awaal had just one run between May and the end of October, when scoring with ease at Redcar.

Crisford explained: “Awaal needs soft ground and there was a heatwave. It was rock-hard ground in the summer everywhere, so we gave him a break because of that.

“He should be a bit of fun this year, because he is lightly-raced and has a big upside.”

The Crisford pair feature among 69 contenders still in, with the William Haggas-trained Al Mubhir shading Awaal for ante-post favouritism at 4-1.

Wanees, Baradar, Atrium, Majestic and Jimi Hendrix are other key names in a race with a maximum field of 22. Those balloted out will have the option of running in the consolation Spring Mile on the same card, which is worth half of the Lincoln’s £150,000 value.

Martin Dwyer set for more surgery on knee injury

/by

Martin Dwyer will go undergo surgery again next month in a bid to return to the saddle following a knee injury that has sidelined him for over a year.

The 47-year-old Derby-winning jockey was injured in a fall when riding out for Brian Meehan last March.

Dwyer severely twisted his knee when a leather iron broke and he suffered a torn ACL.

“I’m just waiting for my operation on April 24. The operation is not severe, it is just to take out scar tissue and see what the problem is, because the knee just won’t bend. It keeps flaring up,” said Dwyer.

“I’m in Oaksey House (rehabilitation centre in Lambourn) doing everything I can, but the injury has just plateaued and we just can’t move forward.

“The original injury, the ligaments, have healed nicely, which is the main thing, but I can’t get it to bend and take weight properly.”

Dwyer, who won the 2006 Derby aboard Sir Percy for Marcus Tregoning, missed out on the winning ride aboard the Willie Muir and Chris Grassick-trained Pyledriver in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer.

Any thoughts of retirement have been put on the back-burner for the time being, however.

“We will cross that bridge when we come to it. Even if I’m not riding again, even getting back to normal life, I’m going to have to keep going through the same procedure,” he added.

“I’ve just got to throw the kitchen sink at rehab and get my knee right. Once I have my leg right, I will make decisions from there.”

The ardent Everton fan is married to Muir’s daughter, Claire, who recently suffered a broken leg in a fall.

“She was bed-bound for a couple of weeks, because the bone came through the skin and so I’m like Mrs Doubtfire at home, hobbling around. The pair of us, it’s a nightmare,” added Dwyer.

“I’m going to have to get a double scooter. They say bad luck comes in threes, so I’m worried about Everton going down!”

Next stop Aintree for Stayers’ Hurdle hero Sire Du Berlais

/by

Stayers’ Hurdle hero Sire Du Berlais will roll on to Aintree to defend his Jrl Group Liverpool Hurdle title next month.

The 11-year-old was a surprise 16-1 winner last year and created another shock when triumphing at Cheltenham as a 33-1 shot earlier this month.

He had shown little in four previous starts, but Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, says connections are keen to head back to Merseyside now.

Gordon Elliott (left) with Sire Du Berlais
Gordon Elliott (left) with Sire Du Berlais (Mike Egerton/PA)

“It was a fantastic result,” Berry said. “He was in great form and all credit to Gordon Elliott and his team.

“He has come out of the race good and the plan is now to go to Aintree.”

Zenta, a close-up third to Lossiemouth in the Triumph Hurdle, also looks set to run at Aintree.

Zenta (left) was beaten by Lossiemouth
Zenta (left) was beaten by Lossiemouth (Tim Goode/PA)

The Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old, who took a Grade Three at Fairyhouse in February, was only just run out of second place by Gala Marceau.

Berry added: “While it is a bit up in the air at the moment, if all was well with her, I’d say she will go to Aintree.”

However, one runner not due to make the trip is Corbetts Cross, who ran out when well in contention at the final flight in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

The Emmet Mullins-trained six-year-old was snapped up by McManus ahead of his Festival run but while things did not go according to plan at Cheltenham, connections will not bid for compensation this term.

Berry, said: “There was a bit of a gap in the railing and he just copped it. He came back OK, but he is finished for the season.

“We’ll see how he is over the summer before making any plans for him.”

Leading fancy Statuette set to miss Guineas, reveals O’Brien

/by

Auguste Rodin, Little Big Bear and Meditate look likely to spearhead Aidan O’Brien’s Classic challenge this term, but leading Qipco 1000 Guineas candidate Statuette is unlikely to feature at Newmarket.

The daughter of Justify won both her juvenile starts last term but has been off the track since landing a Curragh Group in June.

She had been towards the head of the market for the first fillies’ Classic on May 7, but O’Brien feels she is doubtful to make the line-up.

He said: “Statuette has had a little bit of a hold up and I don’t think she’s going to make the Guineas. We will just go gentle and see what happens.”

Aidan O'Brien and Auguste Rodin on Monday at Ballydoyle
Aidan O’Brien and Auguste Rodin on Monday at Ballydoyle (PA)

The master of Ballydoyle holds a typically strong hand in the three-year-old division, with his two colts Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear sharing favouritism for the 2000 Guineas with many bookmakers.

Auguste Rodin signed off last term with victory in the Vertem Futurity Trophy over a mile at Doncaster, while Little Big Bear was an effortless six-length winner in the six-furlong Phoenix Stakes on his final start of the campaign at the Curragh in August.

Both took part in a post-racing gallop at the Curragh on Saturday, with O’Brien impressed by Auguste Rodin’s effort in working with sprinting candidate The Antarctic.

Speaking at a stable visit on Monday morning, O’Brien said: “We’re very happy with Auguste Rodin. What he did at the Curragh was very good, following a three-year-old sprinter. We were very happy with that.

“He was very comfortable (working with The Antarctic), we were surprised at him but he was always very classy from the first time Ryan (Moore) rode him.

“I think they are (the main two for Newmarket), then the lads will have to decide whether to let the two of them run together or split them up. They are the two that will be trained for Newmarket, that makes sense.”

Little Big Bear in action at the Curragh on Saturday
Little Big Bear in action at the Curragh on Saturday (Healy Racing)

O’Brien thinks Little Big Bear will get a mile, although he has yet to try a trip in excess of six furlongs, but Auguste Rodin is expected to sparkle over further in time.

He said: “I suppose Little Big Bear would be very comfortable and happy to go back sprinting, but I think there’s a good chance he will get a mile. He races very relaxed.

“You’d imagine Auguste Rodin will go better stretching out to a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half. He’s that type of horse (that could get any trip in time). If we have a horse that could do that, he’s definitely the one.

“We nearly didn’t run him at Doncaster on the ground. He’s an exceptional mover, a very slick, long and low mover. He’s the type of horse that could start in the Guineas and stretch out.”

Victoria Road, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, is pencilled in for the French 2000 Guineas and Derby, while Hans Andersen, Denmark, Alfred Munnings, Adelaide River and Alexandroupolis could all have Classic trial dates at some point, although Espionage is reported to have had a minor issue.

O’Brien said: “He was in full work and then he got a little bit of a shoulder and he’s only swimming, so he’s going to be held up for a little bit.”

O’Brien ranks his three-year-old colts team highly, adding: “We’ve plenty of chances there and we have two very strong Guineas horses, we have the horse for France. Little Big Bear is very classy, but they are obviously two very good colts.

“I suppose the difference in the two is Auguste Rodin could stretch right out and looking at him at the Curragh, he’s not short of pace. The other horse you would imagine would get a mile.”

Statuette might be missing her Guineas date at Newmarket, but Meditate is set to fly the flag after pleasing O’Brien in Saturday’s racecourse outing.

Placed twice in Group One company last summer, she graduated to top-level success in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Meditate at Ballydoyle on Monday
Meditate at Ballydoyle on Monday (PA)

Her trainer said: “Meditate is the one, she’s going there. She did a gentle piece at the Curragh, because she was at Tipperary a month before that and she was a little bit ouchy afterwards, so we had to be gentle with her.

“She still got to the Curragh to do her bit and she’ll do her first trot this morning, so hopefully she’s OK.

“The plan is to go straight to Newmarket with her. She’s a very professional filly, she’s not over big but she’s strong. We were very happy with her on Saturday.”

Dundalk maiden winner Beginnings could get the chance to emulate her dam, Winter, by tackling the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday.

O’Brien, who also confirmed sprinting campaigns for The Antarctic and Aesop’s Fables, added: “Beginnings could go to a Guineas trial next weekend if it was nice ground, she’s fit and forward. We have had fillies from that Leopardstown trial win the Guineas, so they can step up.”

O’Brien shuffling long-distance pack in wake of Kyprios setback

/by

Aidan O’Brien is considering Plan B for his staying challenge this term, with reigning champion Kyprios a major doubt to defend his Gold Cup title at Royal Ascot.

The five-year-old carried all before him in the marathon division last season, winning each of six starts, including the Ascot showpiece, the Goodwood Cup, Irish St Leger and a tremendous 20-length success in the Prix du Cadran, achieved despite hanging badly across the track.

O’Brien revealed on Sunday Kyprios had suffered a setback, and he expanded on his injury issue when speaking to visiting media at his yard on Monday.

Kyprios (centre left) was the king of the staying division last year
Kyprios (centre left) was the king of the staying division last year (Adam Davy/PA)

He said: “I don’t think Kyprios is going to make the Gold Cup. He got a little bit of a joint and it’s not settling down. We will just have to wait and see. It’s one of those things.

“It happened a month ago and it’s just not settled – sometimes these things can settle very quickly and sometimes they don’t. He got an inner infection inside in the joint and it had to be flushed and then there was more infection, so it had to be flushed a second time.”

If as seems likely Kyprios does miss out, O’Brien has identified some possible deputies, headed by Emily Dickinson – winner of the Loughbrown Stakes when upped to two miles on her final start last term.

Saturday’s Dubai Gold Cup winner Broome is another contender, along with Changingoftheguard, who won the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot when last seen.

Broome won in Dubai on Saturday
Broome won in Dubai on Saturday (Adam Davy/PA)

He added: “Emily Dickinson, Broome, Changingoftheguard is a possible – even though we probably won’t make a decision (yet).

“We were very impressed with Emily at the Curragh, she grew another leg when she went to two miles. I’m not sure whether Broome will stretch out that far (two and a half miles at Ascot), but you’d imagine he’ll be very happy at Goodwood, Irish Leger, the Melbourne Cup, those type of races.”

At the other end of the scale, Tenebrism will flex her sprinting muscles for the Ballydoyle team after trying her hand up to a mile last term.

O’Brien is eyeing an audacious Royal Ascot double, with the King’s Stand and Platinum Jubilee Stakes in mind.

Tenebrism (left) has a sprinting campaign on her agenda
Tenebrism (left) has a sprinting campaign on her agenda (Tim Goode/PA)

He said: “Tenebrism is going to go sprinting. She’ll probably start in one of the local sprints, she’s nearly ready to go, she was at the Curragh (on Saturday) and worked well.

“She’s a fast filly, I’d say five or six she’d be comfortable at. We’re thinking both with her, the five and the six – we thought she could do the two (at Ascot). We were dallying around her last year, seeing where we were going to go and but the minute we started sprinting, it was very obvious she was a sprinter.

“She’ll be trained differently, last year we were trying to stretch her out and she was still being very competitive at those distances, she’s just a good filly.

O’Brien also outlined some early-season juveniles to monitor, headed by a No Nay Never half-brother to Sioux Nation.

He said: “Alabama is one to watch, Battle Cry is another No Nay Never, Emperor Of Rome, a Ten Sovereigns filly called Brighter, I think they’re the more forward types. You’ll not go far wrong with Alabama, who is a brother to Sioux Nation.

“The Liffey is another one, His Majesty is another No Nay Never, Carnegie Hall, they’re some of the early-type ones.”