'He should win': Elarqam camp confident of taking the spoils in Curragh Classic

Elarqam heads to the Curragh with his team full of confidence that the 2,000 Guineas fourth can take centre stage in the Irish equivalent on Saturday.

There is no Saxon Warrior to spoil the party and, even though his trainer Aidan O'Brien could be mob-handed, there is no doubting the confidence behind Hamdan Al Maktoum's classically bred colt.

At Nottingham on Tuesday Richard Hills, the owner's assistant racing manager, said: "I think he'll take all the beating. He has come out of the race really well and Mark [Johnston, trainer] is very pleased with him. Newmarket was only the third run of his life and he lost his way a bit into the Dip. The Curragh will suit him. I think he should win."

The Frankel colt out of 1,000 Guineas winner Attraction is no bigger than 9-4 favourite to win the Tattersalls-backed Classic, with Gustav Klimt heading O'Brien's hopes at 100-30 and stablemate US Navy Flag at 4-1.

Full ante-post betting on Irish 2,000 Guineas

Elarqam's jockey Jim Crowley was equally upbeat about his Classic chances on what could be a big weekend for owner Sheikh Hamdan, with his top sprinter Battaash reappearing at Haydock on Saturday.

Crowley added: "Elarqam ran a cracking race at Newmarket on his first run of the year and will improve for that, and there's no Saxon Warrior in the race."

Johnston added: "He took the Newmarket race very well and I am looking forward to Saturday – he's very well."

The 2,000 Guineas form has already been boosted by Roaring Lion – who finished a neck behind Elarqam in fifth at Newmarket – winning the Group 2 Dante impressively at York last week.

Elarqam, who finished on the quarters of Tip Two Win and Masar, beaten half a length and a head for second, had Gustav Klimt a further length and a quarter behind in sixth.

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