Is there another Poetic Flare lurking on trials day at Leopardstown?

Last year the Ballylinch Stud-sponsored 2,000 Guineas Trial (2.35) did exactly what it said on the tin. Poetic Flare was an emphatic winner and went on to win the real thing at Newmarket a few weeks later.

It proved to be the highest-quality recent running of the race as Laws Of Indices, the fifth home, landed the Prix Jean Prat later in the season, while A Case Of You (12th) won the Abbaye and Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan.

If the Poetic Flare feat is to be repeated this year, it will surely be either Dr Zempf or Glounthaune who does it.

Dr Zempf is as big as 50-1 for the Guineas but he wasn't too far behind the best of the two-year-olds last year. Narrowly denied in the Phoenix Stakes, he is officially rated 111, which put him 7lb clear of Killavullan Stakes winner Glounthaune, who didn't enjoy the demands of Del Mar in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Dr Zempf is the sort of horse you could put on a stamp. He is gorgeous, a tall, dark and handsome son of Dark Angel, who should relish seven furlongs around a bend and it would be disappointing if he didn't kickstart his Classic campaign in style.

Of the less exposed in the line-up, New Energy is the type to do well this season. The ease with which he won a Curragh maiden in September still lives in the memory bank and he was too keen to do himself justice in the Killavullan. Ignore him at your peril.

Joseph O'Brien is responsible for three of the 11 runners in the 1,000 Guineas Trial (3.10) and in Agartha he has got a teak-tough front-running filly who wears her heart on her sleeve. She could stay there and her mark of 109 suggests she won't be easy to peg back.

Only the prolific juvenile Sacred Bridge, who won her first four starts before surrendering that unbeaten record when a well beaten favourite for the Cheveley Park, is rated higher.

Sacred Bridge winning the Round Tower Stakes last seasonCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

You get the impression we didn't see the best of Homeless Songs after her explosive maiden success at the track. Maybe it was too much too soon in the Moyglare next time and she has the potential to develop into a top-class three-year-old filly.

You could argue the most impressive fillies' maiden winner of the entire season last year was Contarelli Chapel. She beat Juncture, now rated 98, by five and a half lengths at Naas in April and instantly looked special.

She was found to be in season when beaten at 2-7 on her return to the track the following month and hasn't been in action since. She is as short as 12-1 with Ladbrokes for the 1,000 Guineas and no bigger than 16-1 anywhere else. Victory here would surely see her shorten to single figures.

Aidan O'Brien has completely dominated the Group 3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes (3.45) in recent decades, winning it 11 times in all including with Galileo in 2001, High Chaparral in 2002 and Yeats in 2004.

Whether he has anything of that calibre this year is very much debatable and the 98-rated Bluegrass would appear to be his best chance of making it five wins in a row in the race.

The Galileo colt, who is a daughter of Commonwealth Cup and Sprint Cup winner Quiet Reflection, seemed to get the message very late in the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket last autumn and looks just the type to progress at three.

Aidan's two sons - Joseph and Donnacha - are standing in his way. The 107-rated Buckaroo leads a two-pronged attacked from Joseph's yard, while unlucky Eyrefield Stakes runner-up Piz Badile is captain of Donnacha's team.

Duke De Sessa, who beat Piz Badile in Eyrefield, renews rivalry in what should be a cracking and very informative heat.

Saturday: 2.35 Leopardstown
Ballylinch Stud "Red Rocks" 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes (Listed Race) | 7f | 3yo | RTV

What they say

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Exquisite Acclaim
He's got a bit to do on ratings, but he ran well the other day at Dundalk and if we managed to sneak a bit of black type with him, it would be great.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Glounthane, Howth and The Acropolis
Glounthaune is in good form. His last run was in Del Mar and he was just very green on the track that day. He seems to have done well over the winter. The Acropolis disappointed us last year, he was always working better than what he was showing on the track. He's done well over the winter, though, so hopefully that can change. Howth was behind Glounthaune at Leopardstown but he's doing well and is ready to start back.

Sheila Lavery, trainer of New Energy
We're excited about him and looking forward to getting him started. I'm just hoping the ground doesn't dry out too much for him. He's been working well.

Ballylinch Stud "Priory Belle" 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes (Group 3) | 7f | 3yo | RTV

What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Agartha, Pennine Hills and Seisai
I'm happy with all three. Agartha won over the course and distance last year. We're probably looking more towards the Curragh than Newmarket for her. Seisai is a good, solid filly who has some nice form in good races last season. Pennine Hills ran well over that course and distance when second in the Killavullan last October. She's a solid, hardy filly who quickens and stays.

Agartha (left) winning last season's Group 2 Debutante StakesCredit: Patrick McCann

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Contarelli Chapel
She's good. She only had two runs last year and the second was of those was back in May. We've been happy with her this year and she's doing well.

Dermot Weld, trainer of Homeless Songs
She's wintered well, she's forward and I think she will run a really nice race.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Viareggio and Villanova Queen
Viareggio did very well at two and if she could pick up some black type here it would be lovely. Villanova Queen was impressive when she won her maiden at Leopardstown in the autumn. On ratings, it would appear she has quite a bit to find, but she's a big filly and I definitely think she has improved over the winter.

P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes (Group 3) | 1m2f | 3yo | RTV

What they say

Dermot Weld, trainer of Duke De Sessa
He had a very good year as a two-year-old and has wintered well. The one thing I will say is that I expect him to progress a lot from this and keep progressing throughout the season. He's fit enough to do himself justice and can still run well, but I do expect him to progress from it.

Donnacha O'Brien, trainer of Absolute Ruler and Piz Badile
Piz Badile has wintered well and turned into a fine, big horse. He will improve for the run, but we're still hoping for a good run from him. Absolute Ruler is up in trip and comes to a stiffer track, which will suit him better. I'm expecting an improvement from his last two outings.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Bluegrass and Scriptwriter
Bluegrass is in good form. He was still quite green in the Zetland at Newmarket and he's done well over the winter. Scriptwriter ran well in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket back in October and we hope there is more to come from him this year.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Buckaroo and Swan Bay
Buckaroo will go down the Derby path and we'll see what happens. He got himself in a bit of trouble on both of his last two starts by being a bit lackadaisical early in the race. It was a messy race last time in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud when he was towards the back before staying on well for fourth. Hopefully, maturity will help him so that he can break better this year to help him along in a good position. Swan Bay showed plenty of ability last season and has wintered well. He will have a good chance of staying a mile and a half.

Read all of Saturday's previews:

1.15 Ayr: Is it worth taking on the favourite Sebastopol in Listed handicap chase?

1.50 Ayr: His talent is undeniable - but can Dusart strike despite short turnaround?

2.25 Ayr: Expert analysis and key trainer quotes for the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr

2.45 Newbury: Which trainer thinks his mare will 'run a very big race' in Grade 2?

3.00 Ayr: 'It's a red-hot race' - novice chasers clash in Grade 2 Future Champions

3.35 Ayr: 'She's in great form' - Christian Williams on his leading Scottish National duo

3.35 Ayr: Runner-by-runner guide: key quotes and star ratings for Scottish Grand National

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