Awtaad 'better and fitter' ahead of Ascot raid

Kevin Prendergast believes Awtaad is even fitter than he was in the Irish 2,000 Guineas ahead of his attempt to claim another Group One success in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

In what is potentially the race of the meeting, the son of Cape Cross will again lock horns with English 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold, whom he defeated at the Curragh, and French 2000 Guineas hero The Gurkha.

Prendergast said: "He will appreciate the ground at Ascot as he doesn't mind that easy ground. The Curragh is the stiffest mile in the world so the track won't be a problem. He has trained well since the Curragh and is in good shape. He looks better and fitter than he did in the Irish 2000 Guineas."

The veteran handler went on: "We always thought he was a good horse. It was great to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas as I had been after it for so long, although we hadn't had many runners in it, but it was good to reward plenty of patience.

"I would not worry about Galileo Gold. The Gurkha is the horse you would have to be worried about. It looks a cracking race and you have three Guineas winners coming together. If he wins this, it would top his Guineas win."

While conditions were believed to have played a role in the defeat of Galileo Gold at the Curragh, trainer Hugo Palmer is not too concerned about the rain that has fallen ahead of the latest race in the mile division of the Qipco British Champion Series.

Palmer said: "I'm not panicky about the ground. I can't believe it will get as soft as the Curragh when it really was very soft. I'm certain the winner loved it, but we were second in a Group One so it's not like he completely hated it.

"I had talked all winter about going to France as I was worried about rattling-fast ground at Newmarket, as it can be.

"My slight suspicion at the moment is that despite the fact I was totally happy with him going to the Curragh - as peaks and troughs go - Newmarket and now are perhaps slightly more peaks and the Curragh was more of a trough in the horse's well-being.

"I was very happy going to the Curragh but I am just a bit more happy with him now.

"We're drawn a bit wider, which will have its own complications, but he should have no excuses in getting trapped. "

Aidan O'Brien feels the ground will play a vital role regarding the chances of The Gurkha.

He said: "The ground is going to be the thing to work out - The Gurkha won his maiden on soft ground, but it was very nice ground in France."

The Gurkha's jockey Ryan Moore added : "Three Guineas winners take each other on which should be very exciting. You have to respect all three of them. The ground will play a part and we have to wait and see. I think my mount should be able to handle both softer and faster ground."