Frank Ennis has never sent out a Classic runner before, but not content with one runner in Saturday's Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas, he will have two.
Ennis, who trains just a stone's throw from the Curragh, has his horses in electric form at the moment, with three of his four wins this season having been secured in the last week.
Better known for success with handicappers, he will saddle both Ferneley and Confuchias in the first Irish Classic of the season and while the former is far shorter in the betting, he hopes for a decent performance from both runners.
Ferneley got close to both Teofilo and Thousand Words as a two-year-old and made a pleasing reappearance in the 10-furlong Ballysax Stakes when finishing half a length behind Mores Wells.
Confuchias has been trying shorter distances, placing second and then fifth behind Guineas rival Creachadoir in his two outings this term.
‘They are two different types. Confuchias has a lot of speed, whereas Ferneley is more of a relentless galloper,’ explained Ennis.
‘They are both in good form and I am expecting a good run from each. Confuchias ran a bit free last time, and we will just drop him in.
‘Ferneley stays well and ran very well last time, but maybe did not quite get home over a mile and a quarter. I think a mile up the Curragh will really suit and there is improvement in both of them.’
Reflecting on his current hot streak, Ennis said: ‘I'm not doing anything differently, the horses have just come to themselves."
Cockney Rebel and Vital Equine lock horns again after finishing first and second in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket at the start of the month.
The latter has continued to delight handler Eoghan O'Neill in the run-up to Saturday's feature and has arrived in Ireland fighting fit.
O'Neill said: ‘He's been fine since Newmarket and arrived over there yesterday. He took the journey well and we're hoping for another big run. Everything's been fine and he's actually improved quite a bit since Newmarket. His work has been very good so we're very happy.
‘I'm sure the ground will be fine really and he ran great last time but I thought he would run a big race. He'll improve tomorrow but I'm sure the other principals like Cockney Rebel and Duke Of Marmalade will do as well, so it's sure to be a good race and we're all there to have a crack again.’
Having led the field for most of the English Classic, O'Neill was pleased to see his charge find more after Cockney Rebel had gone by him.
‘He picked up again when he was headed last time and probably if Cockney Rebel hadn't gone by him so quickly he would have picked up quicker,’ he added.
‘He's a good, tough, genuine horse and he always gives us his best everytime he runs. I think we will probably just drop him in tomorrow as he's drawn for that in stall one, and then we'll ride a race on him from there.’
Aidan O'Brien will be represented by Duke Of Marmalade, Trinity College and Excellent Art, with Colm O'Donoghue looking forward to partnering the latter.
The Irishman was on board Astronomer Royal when the pair landed the French Guineas in which Excellent Art finished fourth after enduring a troubled passage.
'I'm hoping that he will run a good race,' said O'Donoghue.
'He ran a great race last time and it was just unfortunate what happened. We'd all have loved to get the passage we could on the day but it just didn't work out for him.
'He travelled really well for Jamie (Spencer) but he was just in a position where he had to sit back and come around them,' he told At The Races.
'Jamie looked after him when it was clear things weren't going to go his way and it was just the way the race worked out.
'He's come out of that race well though so we're hoping he will run a very good race again tomorrow.'
Creachadoir will represent Jim Bolger after his fine showing at Longchamp last time. The King's Best colt finished only half a length away when runner-up to Astronomer Royal and has continued to give the right signals at home.
Already a two-time winner this year, Creachadoir will now attempt to land a third success in the hands of Kevin Manning.
'He did run well in France,' Bolger said.
'He has come out of the race very well and is a horse on the upgrade. He wouldn't want the ground too soft but I think it is going to be OK this weekend.'
