Sport

O'Brien to run three in 1,000

AIDAN O'BRIEN will lead the Irish defence in the 1,000 Guineas but may end up running only three of his original five entries…

Wed May 21 1997 - 01:00

AIDAN O'BRIEN will lead the Irish defence in the 1,000 Guineas but may end up running only three of his original five entries. Yesterday, O'Brien confirmed that Strawberry Roan will be ridden by stable jockey Christy Roche and she will definitely be joined by Classic Park and Royale. However, both Shell Ginger and Mingling Glances may miss the first classic.

Shell Ginger worked very well this morning, but we are thinking of running her in the Conrad Race instead and then letting her take her chance in the Epsom Oaks," O'Brien said.

Mingling Glances is still a "possible" for the 1,000 Guineas but O'Brien confirmed that last Saturday's Cork winner has an alternative engagement in Royal Ascot's Coronation Stakes.

O'Brien's Desert King will lead the home defence in Sunday's 2,000 Guineas and the trainer yesterday confirmed the Group One-winning colt to be in good shape for taking on Revoque.

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Rcvoque has been all the rage in the betting for the colts' classic. He is a 6 to 5 shot with Paddy Power, with Desert King a 4 to 1 chance.

Revoque will face a maximum of two of his Newmarket victims, as only Zamindar and Musical Pursuit from the Guineas line-up were among the 20 acceptors yesterday.

Fifth-placed Zamindar, who could bid to emulate Spinning World's first-ever French victory 12 months ago, is a 6 to 1 chance. Musical Pursuit, who was all but pulled up at Newmarket after his saddle slipped, is quoted at 10 to 1.

Other British acceptors include Yalaietanee (13-2), Royal Amaretto (10-1), and Fantastic Fellow (16-1).

Romanov (Peter Chapple-Hyam) was declared only in case anything happens to Revoque, while Kahal's participation depends on Godolphin getting to the bottom of the problem which has hit Saeed bin Suroor's yard.

Both Newmarket 1,000 Guineas winner Sleepytime's immediate victims will take part in Saturday's classic. Paddy Power offer third-placed Dazzle at 100 to 30, with runner-up Oh Nellie, who was supplemented for the race yesterday, a 4 to 1 chance.

The John Gosden-trained Prix Marcel Boussac winner Ryafan, unraced to date this term, is 7 to 2. Other British acceptors were Connemara (Chris Dwyer) and Seebe (Ian Balding). The latter, second in the French 1,000 Guineas, will not run if the going is too soft.