Aidan O'Brien weighs up his chances of making it ten in the Irish 1,000 Guineas

3.15 Curragh
Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (Group 1) | 1m | 3yo fillies | RTE1/RTV

Aidan O'Brien is chasing the perfect ten. Peaceful was his ninth winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas last year and Joan Of Arc, who is trying to emulate her big sister Marvellous who was successful in 2014, is unquestionably his number one as he bids for double figures.

Seen only once as a juvenile when just touched off by Hazel in a Dundalk maiden back in November, Joan Of Arc made no mistake on her return to action in a maiden over seven furlongs here in March.

Nothing went right from a wide draw in the Ballylinch Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial next time at Leopardstown, but she was a different filly back at that venue a fortnight ago when making all in another trial for the first Irish fillies' Classic of the season.

O'Brien said: "Joan Of Arc in very good form and we were delighted with the way she won at Leopardstown. This has been the plan since then and her preparation has gone well."

Marvellous was seemingly the Ballydoyle second string when she landed the spoils in 2014 so rule out Empress Josephine at your peril.

O'Brien said of Seamie Heffernan's mount: "It was a mile and one and a half furlongs at Gowran last time when she was second and she is back to a mile here. She's been in good form since and we're happy with her."

The O'Brien challenge is completed by the 81-rated Friendly, who remains a maiden after seven starts and is reported to be in good form by her trainer.

Fev Rover team confident of big run

Fev Rover's co-owner Nick Bradley has been refreshingly honest in admitting he would be "disappointed" if his filly did not finish in the first three.

Bradley says the pressure has been turned up a notch as the daughter of Gutaifan, who was snapped up for just £20,000 as a yearling in 2019, is being quoted as low as 9-2 for the Classic.

Fev Rover has every right to be so short. Not only was she a close-up third to Mother Earth in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, and one spot ahead of Oaks favourite Santa Barbara, but she has form on deep ground.

Fev Rover (right): has conditions to suitCredit: Pool

Fev Rover won the Prix du Calvados at Deauville on what was officially described as very soft ground in late August and was fourth in the Prix Marcel Boussac on heavy ground on Arc day at Longchamp. It seems she will relish conditions.

Bradley said: "Newmarket took plenty out of her, but she worked very well on Tuesday and the lad who rides her every day said she's back to where she was before the 1,000 Guineas.

"When you get to this kind of level and they're fancied, there's a bit more pressure on you. I'd be disappointed if she doesn't finish in the first three, something I've certainly never said in a Classic before."

What they say

Paddy Twomey, trainer of Fantasy Lady
I came away from Leopardstown very disappointed because I thought she'd run much better. But in hindsight it was a very big performance given she missed the kick. We don't run horses in Classics for no reason and I expect her to run a very big race.

Ken Condon, trainer of Miss Amulet
She's very well. We're stepping into the unknown with trip and ground but it's on our doorstep and it's the Irish Guineas. She was very progressive filly last season and she's drawn around the right horses. We think she wants nice ground, but you never know who is going to handle extreme conditions like this.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of No Speak Alexander and Zaffy's Pride
I'd like to think No Speak Alexander has a great each-way chance. She won well the last day and she's come on from that. I think she'll be fine on the ground and she'll enjoy the trip. Zaffy's Pride is a lovely filly who will run her race as she always does.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Pretty Gorgeous, Sense Of Style and Thinking Of You
Pretty Gorgeous is in good shape. She missed Newmarket and this has been the plan since. We're hoping for a good run from her. Sense Of Style ran well at Leopardstown in a trial and just met a bit of traffic. She has an each-way chance and has form on soft ground. Thinking Of You ran a very good race in her trial last time and if we could sneak a place with her it would be fantastic.

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