Camelot ready to spark Guineas legend

Camelot
(Healy Racing Photos)

The eclipse of St Nicholas Abbey in the race two years ago is still a raw memory for the Ballydoyle team and they admit it took him a good year to get over those exertions.

With Camelot by the same sire in Montjeu and having followed the same route via the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, people have not surprisingly drawn the comparison between the pair.

While O'Brien was reluctant to commit the unbeaten colt to the Classic until only recently, the last few weeks have seen him discuss his chances in a far more bullish mode.

"He's never run in a big field, but he's a straightforward horse and a relaxed horse at home," said O'Brien.

"Obviously the bigger the field the more dangers there are, but I don't think it's going to be a problem.

"If the horse wasn't going to be ready for the Guineas we didn't want to be forcing him so we were letting him tell us really.

"He's been coming along nicely and everything has gone smoothly so far.

"I'd imagine so (he'll get further). His two runs were over a mile last year and we're using this as a start-off race," he told British Champions Series TV.

Camelot will be ridden by O'Brien's son, Joseph, who is looking for his first British Classic.

"It's going to be his first run of the year so he should improve from it, but he's been doing everything nicely," said O'Brien jnr.

"He won very impressively at Doncaster and was in control all the way. I never had to ask him a question.

"He's a very uncomplicated horse, he takes no work at home. He's a joy to train, I suppose, and very easy to ride. He has it all."

The Ballydoyle team also have a strong second string to their bow in Power, seen by many as an unlucky loser in the Dewhurst on his last start at two.

"He started off at six furlongs and went up to seven. He hasn't run over a mile yet, so he's a little bit different to Camelot," said the handler .

"He's well and he's a big, hardy horse. I don't think a mile will be a problem, but he's a horse who shows plenty of early speed in his work, so I'm not sure how much further than a mile he'll get.

"In his races he has a lazy way of racing and comes home well, so it will be interesting."