John Oxx is quietly confident his charge Azamour can reverse the Irish 2000 Guineas placings with Bachelor Duke when the two meet again in the St James' Palace Stakes on Tuesday.
The trainer is not disconcerted about the fact that Azamour has to overcome an outside post in the Group One contest, as the colt always needs to be held up.
He explained: "The key to my horse is that he has a good, fast gallop and manages to get a position from his outside draw, Oxx said. I've always thought fast ground would suit him and that will be fine, it's a question of whether our fellow has come on for his race in the Guineas.
"My personal view is that he has, because he's had a good preparation for this race with no setbacks. He's been working really well and there will be no excuses if he is beaten
tomorrow."
Jockey Seb Saunders is also talking up Bachelor Duke's chances and he believes the colt is in the sort of form that took him to glory in the Irish Classic on May 22. However, he will have to improve on his seventh in the English Guineas to overturn Haafhd at the Royal meeting.
Saunders told At The Races: "He was still quite babyish going into the English Guineas. The piece of work he did before the Irish Guineas was just out of this world. He's working to that still now, so we're very hopeful."
Other notables include Free Handicap and German 2000 Guineas winner Brunel from the William Haggas stable.
Filed by James McMahon
