Donnacha O'Brien hoping ground not too testing for Shale Donnacha O'Brien has admitted to some concerns about the ground for Shale ahead of the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Sunday. The daughter of Galileo struck at the top level for the Longfield handler when taking the Moyglare Stud Stakes last season. Her seasonal debut this season saw her finish fifth in the Guineas trial at Leopardstown last month and O'Brien feels she has improved significantly from that run:- “She's in good form, we always knew that she'd need that run and I thought it was a very satisfactory first run. “Her work is good and she seems to have improved plenty for her first run. “The first thing Ryan (Moore) said when he got off her in Leopardstown was that he thought she'd stay ten furlongs as well so that will leave us with plenty of opportunities.” Shale faced off against Sunday's favourite Pretty Gorgeous on four occasions last season with the honours equal and O'Brien added:- “She's run well on soft ground but was never at her best. That's why she got beaten by Joseph's filly (Pretty Gorgeous), the ground was easy, when she won it was quick ground. “I don't think she's at her best on soft ground, hopefully it's not heavy but we'll have to see what the ground is like come the day. “Galileos are genuine and they stay well. Those two things combined usually mean that they are fairly effective on soft ground. “She's not the biggest of fillies but she's filled out and she's strong. Sometimes horses either handle it or they don't, in terms of their action, so I'm not sure whether strength is going to make her any better on it. “She has run well on easy ground before so unless it's heavy I think we'll be happy to run.”
