Contingent has Naas & Gowran options

Contingent is unlikely to take her chance in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6th.

The Dermot Weld-trained daughter of Frankel looked a smart prospect when winning on her introduction at Leopardstown in October.

"She is in good form. She is still a bit wintry, but I saw her the other day and she has developed well," said owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe.

"There are a number of possibilities for her. The English 1000 Guineas might be a little bit too soon. She could go to the Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes at Gowran Park, or there is a seven-furlong race a week later at Naas.

"We will see how Dermot feels and how the filly is. We have good expectations of her.

"We were talking about her trip. I think she would get a mile and quarter pretty happily, whether she would get a mile and a half, I don't see why not. She has definitely got the right attitude to get that trip."

Contingent is 25/1 for both the 1000 Guineas and the Investec Oaks at Epsom.

Connections remain hopeful that Expert Eye will bounce back to form in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Sir Michael Stoute's charge looked every inch a top-class horse in the making when dominating his rivals in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last summer.

However, he trailed home last of nine runners when odds-on for the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket and, as a result, he heads into his three-year-old campaign with something to prove.

Grimthorpe said: "We are still looking at the 2000 Guineas. Whether he has a run beforehand or not, it is too early to say yet.

"I saw him the other day and he is in good shape. Sir Michael is pleased with him and we are hopefully getting back to where we think he should be.

"I think there were a number of factors behind his run in the Dewhurst. Obviously he seemed to get rather angry in the stalls. Once he started he was not really concentrating in the race, he did far too much and we knew our fate quite a long way out.

"We do know he works to a high level and that will be helpful in his build-up to the Guineas."

He added: "I think he has developed well. I don't think he has grown a great deal but he has certainly filled out and is a well-balanced horse. Physically we are very happy with him."

Expert Eye is as short as 8/1 for the 2000 Guineas, and Abdullah has a second potential runner in the first colts' Classic of the season in 25/1 shot Herculean.

A son of Frankel out of Group One-winning mare African Rose, the chestnut colt made a big impression on his debut for Roger Charlton at Ascot in September.

Grimthorpe said: "He is in good shape. Whether he is a Guineas horse or not, it is hard to tell at this stage. He has just had one race. He would certainly need a race if he were to go to the Guineas.

"It is far from being ruled out. He is going nicely and Roger is pleased with him.

"He was quite a big, scopey horse last year and needed to fill into his frame, which he has done. If you push them too hard then maybe things can come a bit too soon."