Kingman's the one to beat in Irish 2000 Guineas

Denied in the final throes of the Two Thousand Guineas three weeks ago,

Kingman bids to amend for that disappointment by going one better in Saturday's

Group 1 Irish Two Thousand Guineas at the Curragh. So impressive when extending

his unbeaten run to three at the expense of an admittedly below-par Night of

Thunder in Newbury's Greenham over seven furlongs April 12, Khalid Abdullah's

homebred did little wrong at Newmarket on ground which was probably as lively as

he would want.

This time, he has plenty of ease in the surface and all the portents are

strong, with his main rivals either inconvenienced by conditions or seemingly

outclassed.

"We were very positive about him before (Newmarket) and he's really done

everything we'd have hoped," the owner-breeder's Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe

told PA Sport. "We've got no qualms about the result. If Kieren's horse (Night

of Thunder) had stayed straight then he'd probably win by further, so you can't

complain about that. All has been fine with Kingman in the lead-up to the race

and they are calling the going yielding, which should be fine."

Just 2 1/4 lengths behind Kingman in fourth in the Guineas was Night of

Thunder's stable companion Shifting Power, who was also losing a perfect record

there and who was added to the mix this week.

"We thought he would run better than his odds suggested at Newmarket and he

did not let us down," his conditioner commented. "We felt that it was worth

supplementing him here and The Curragh should suit him well, so we are looking

for another bold show. We can go up to a mile and a quarter later on, but I

think he's well worth his chance."

One who is flying under the radar entering this test is Spanish owner Chantal

Regalado-Gonzalez's Big Time, who has been patiently handled by John Joseph

Murphy and who was runner-up in both the Railway and Phoenix over six furlongs

here last summer. He was a half-length in front of War Command on the latter

occasion and is certain on physique and pedigree to improve for this rise in

trip.

"This has been his aim since his last run, he's in very good shape and I

couldn't be happier," his trainer said. "He just had a tiny cough in late March

and early April, so we skipped the trials and have gone straight for it. I just

hope it's not soft or heavy ground. If he stays, I'd be looking for him to run a

big race and I'm really excited."

Two others from the home team whose limits remain unknown are Qatar Racing

Ltd. and Sutong Pan's Obliterator and Jaber Abdullah's Prince of All. The former

was clear of some smart types but seven lengths adrift of the subsequently

disappointing True Story in Newmarket's Feilden Stakes over nine furlongs April

16 and connections are hoping further rain stays away.

"Ger (Lyons) is very happy with the horse, but he won't run if the word soft

is in the going description," Qatar Racing's Racing Manager David Redvers told

PA Sport. "It's very frustrating as he's in such good form, but there if there

is a deluge of rain at the Curragh, as some are predicting, he won't be lining

up. If the ground is not suitable, we'll probably aim towards the French Derby

and then Royal Ascot."

Prince of All's ticket was booked when winning Dundalk's Patton Stakes over

seven furlongs April 16 and trainer Paul Deegan is another looking to the skies.

"As long as it's not too soft, he'll run," he told PA Sport. "He's come on a

bit since then and has improved for the run. He'll keep on improving and he's

only had three runs. The Curragh should suit him more, as it's a stiff track.

He'll get 10 furlongs later in the year, I think."

The heavy recent rain is certain to have a major impact on the outcome of

Saturday's Group 3 Greenlands at six furlongs as well, with any more moisture

firmly in the favor soft-ground lover Maarek. Defying a penalty in the soft in

the May 14 Duke of York, last year's Prix de l'Abbaye hero holds the edge over

the 2013 British Champions Sprint winner Slade Power who returns for the first

time since flopping in the December 8 Hong Kong Sprint.

Yielding ground will already be an inconvenience for the well-regarded

Darwin, and any further easing of the surface may mean that Ballydoyle's

imposing colt sidesteps the drop back to sprinting after a truncated

three-year-old campaign highlighted by a win in the Minstrel over an extra panel

here.

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