Kieren Fallon will let George Washington do the talking when the pair line up in the Stan James 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.
The general 7 to 4 favourite has headed the market ever since his two wins at Group One level last season, and Fallon - who has ridden the Danehill colt in all five of his starts - had a quiet air of confidence about him when asked about his chances.
"I think a lot has been written about George over the last couple of months and I think it's best if we just wait until Saturday now and we'll see what he can do," said Fallon. "We're pretty confident."
Fallon was quick to nominate stablemate and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Horatio Nelson as his main danger. "It's very hard to say who the big dangers are but at this stage Horatio Nelson looks one of them. He should have won the Dewhurst, but after that it is wide open," he continued.
"I've done most of the work on George and I've only sat on Horatio once for a swinging canter so it wasn't a very difficult decision to make really. I really like the horse."
George Washington's chief market rival is the Marcus Tregoning-trained Sir Percy, who is a general 7 to 2 chance. Unbeaten as a juvenile, including a victory in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes, owner Victoria Packenham has admitted that the nerves are beginning to kick in ahead of the big day.
"It's all getting very exciting and the sleepless nights have started," she said. "There has been so much hype and if he was going into the race as a 20 to 1 shot we would be more relaxed, but there is so much expected of him that we are very, very nervous."
Asset, who won the Listed Easter Stakes at Kempton, is also reported to be in top trim by trainer Richard Hannon. He easily beat Mick Channon's Royal Power that day, and he has since boosted the form by finishing second in a Group Two race in Italy.
"I think as long as the ground stays anywhere near good or good to firm he should have a great chance," said Hannon.
"He's got a good turn of foot, he stays the mile well and we are very happy with what he has been doing at home. His form has been boosted by the second running a big race in Italy so it's looking alright.
"We're confident as much as you can be going into the Guineas but he's got to go there and prove it. This horse travels well in a race and probably has a better turn of foot than my other Guineas winners and he can really switch it on when he wants to."
Another confirmed runner in the race is the Jeremy Noseda-trained Araafa, who missed a recent engagement at the Newmarket Craven meeting. "He had his final piece of work yesterday morning when he exercised over seven furlongs. He now goes to the Guineas as an outsider but I do feel he will run a creditable race," the trainer said.
"While he has never competed over a mile before, I think he will stay the trip. He ran well over seven furlongs at two. If the weather stays the same, it will be interesting to see how he handles fast ground. That is my only little query."
