Aidan O'Brien pins Guineas hopes on Luxembourg as he reveals Classic plans

Aidan O'Brien has revealed no horse excites him more heading into the new Flat season than the unbeaten Luxembourg, who looks set to be joined by Point Lonsdale as the master of Ballydoyle plans a twin challenge on the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, April 30.

Luxembourg, a general 5-1 chance to provide O'Brien with an 11th 2,000 Guineas triumph, worked alongside Point Lonsdale in what was described as a key racecourse gallop after racing at the Curragh on Saturday.

Both colts came through the assignment with flying colours, according to O'Brien, who revealed last season's Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes winner Luxembourg has always been held in the highest regard at Ballydoyle.

"Luxembourg was always the horse. From the time he went [for his debut] to Killarney, we knew he was very good," O'Brien said at Ballydoyle on Monday morning.

Qipco 2,000 Guineas: big-race entries and betting

O'Brien warned Point Lonsdale, a general 10-1 chance for Guineas glory, should not go overlooked for the opening Classic of the season, saying: "Point Lonsdale worked in the same group as Luxembourg on Saturday and that was the first time they went together.

"I was very happy with Point Lonsdale. The two of them came up the straight very well. At the moment, the plan is for the two of them to go for the Guineas."

O'Brien added: "Point Lonsdale is a very brave horse. Even looking at him at the Curragh, his head goes right down to the ground. He's a great traveller – he has plenty of pace – but we think he'll stay as well. He'll love the nice ground, even though he did a lot of his racing last year on softer ground, but he's a very kind horse."

Asked if he saw much of Camelot in Luxembourg, O'Brien replied: "Luxembourg is probably a little bit bigger than Camelot – he's rangier – but he has the pace. Camelot was the only Montjeu horse to win the Guineas and this fella travels along. He finds it easy to go fast, which is a good sign."

Aidan O'Brien: 'It looks as though Luxembourg will go straight for the Guineas as well'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Luxembourg also heads the Derby betting at odds of 5-2. He was catapulted to the forefront of the betting for the Epsom Classic after posting an ultra-impressive victory in the Vertem Futurity at Doncaster on his final start at two and, similarly to Point Lonsdale, O'Brien holds no fears about stepping out in trip as the season progresses.

He said: "It looks as though Luxembourg will go straight for the Guineas as well. He travelled well in his work and finished close to Point Lonsdale so it will be interesting to see how they get on at Newmarket.

"We could make a plan after Newmarket but obviously both colts could step up a good bit further in trip this season."

Qipco 1,000 Guineas Stakes: big-race entries and betting

It was not just the colts who excelled in that racecourse gallop at the Curragh. Brilliant Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Tenebrism provided O'Brien with the strongest inclination yet she would stay the Qipco 1,000 Guineas trip when working well off a strong pace over seven and a half furlongs.

The daughter of Caravaggio is unbeaten in both of her starts to date but has yet to go beyond six furlongs. However, O'Brien is more confident now than ever before about tackling the Guineas trip.

He said: "There's every chance Tenebrism will stay the Guineas trip. She worked very well after racing at the Curragh on Saturday. We went a very good gallop in front of her for seven and a half furlongs and she picked up very well and ran home strongly. You'd have to be very impressed with what she has done so far."

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