O'Brien expects masterful Guineas

Aidan O'Brien is confident the testing conditions at the Curragh will not hinder the chances of Mastercraftsman in the Boylesports.com Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday.

The Danehill Dancer colt won four of his five starts as a juvenile, including Group One victories in the Phoenix Stakes and the National Stakes.

He was far from disgraced when finishing fifth on his reappearance in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month.

The Ballydoyle handler believes there should be improvement to come from that effort.

'The ground is not ideal for any horse, but Mastercraftsman won two Group Ones last year - one on firm ground and one on heavy ground - so he is a very versatile horse,' said O'Brien.

'It's not ideal, but we are hoping he will be OK on it. He is well. We've been happy with him since Newmarket and all the horses have been improving from their first runs, so we're hoping that is the case with Master.'

Mastercraftsman is one of four O'Brien contenders for the Group One contest, with Drumbeat, Hail Caesar and Viceroy Of India all lining up for Ballydoyle.

'Hail Caesar is a horse we have always liked. He ran in a Group One last year and ran well and has ran in two trials this year and ran well, so he is in good form and we're hoping that he runs well,' O'Brien told At The Races.

'The word is that Delegator should handle the ground so obviously that is good for Delegator, and a worry for us.'

Richard Hannon's Soul City makes his first start of the campaign, having edged out Gan Amhras to win the Goffs Million at this venue last year.

The latter went on to finish third in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month.

'That run at the Curragh was a good run from him, and he also won his Group Three at Longchamp very well,' said Richard Hannon jnr, the trainer's son and assistant.

'The ground shouldn't be a problem for him, and I wouldn't worry about it being his first run as he's plenty fit enough.

'He'd had a long season by the time the Dewhurst came around and we probably shouldn't have gone there.

'But he's in great form now and has been saved for this race.

'We're not confident but we go there hopeful.'

John Oxx's Rayeni comes into the race unbeaten after two juvenile starts, with jockey Mick Kinane looking forward to the ride.

'He needs soft ground, and it's going to be just about bordering raceable,' Kinane told At The Races.

'Very few people will have encountered conditions as tough as they are going to encounter this weekend.

'In fairness to him, he came through and won his two starts last year and John (Oxx) had prepared him for a tilt at the Guineas trial, but he had a setback.

'He was on the easy list for a while but, thankfully, he has come good at a time when he was needed.

'I know my horse is going to handle the conditions, but we don't know if he is a Group One horse.'