O'Brien bidding for Newmarket success

Racing : Aidan O'Brien hopes a triple-headed assault on tomorrow's 2000 Guineas can yield a third successive success in the …

Racing: Aidan O'Brien hopes a triple-headed assault on tomorrow's 2000 Guineas can yield a third successive success in the opening Classic of the season.

The Ballydoyle maestro enjoyed back-to-back victories with Footstepsinthesand and George Washington in the last two renewals.

While he admits the loss of Holy Roman Emperor dealt a significant blow to his Guineas ambitions, O'Brien expects Duke Of Marmalade, Eagle Mountain and Yellowstone to make their presence felt.

"We had to rattle a few cages when Holy Roman Emperor left us to wake a few of the other horses up," he said.  "We have always thought a lot of Duke Of Marmalade but he fractured a pastern after running in Goodwood last summer.

READ MORE

"We have got him back though, and he is a hardy, pacey, strong horse and has been going well. Yellowstone ran in a trial. It was slowly run but we were still delighted with him.

"Eagle Mountain won the Beresford last year and then went to Newbury for the Racing Post Trophy on soft ground, which didn't really suit him. I have been happy with him and am hoping he will run well.

"It is a big field and it will be a big charge up Newmarket - almost like one of their big handicaps. It will be a tough race but a lot of horses there have improvement in them so it could be an interesting race."