Shift Work Delights Durcan

Ted Durcan believes the drop in trip and better ground will be in Light Shift's favour as she attempts to gain revenge on Peeping Fawn in the Blue Square Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday.

Henry Cecil's filly gave the master of Warren Place an eighth victory in the Oaks earlier in the season, beating Aidan O'Brien's Peeping Fawn in the process.

However, the Ballydoyle filly gained her revenge when landing the Irish Oaks by three and a half lengths.

That reverse came in bottomless ground and Durcan hopes the firmer surface will see his mount come out on top once again.

'She is in especially good form but it looks like a very hot race,' said Durcan.

'I rode her in her final piece of work on Wednesday at Mr Cecil's and she seems awfully well.

'Mr Cecil is extremely happy with her and we are expecting a big run from her.

'The ground should be ideal for her. Hopefully if the rain stays away it should be perfect ground.

'She is blessed with natural speed so the drop down to 10 furlongs will not bother her at all.

'She might have been on the go a while but Mr Cecil is more than happy with her, and that is good enough for me.

'She is a hardy filly anyway and has had had nice gaps between her races.

'We realise that it won't be easy but it is a very exciting race and we are hoping for a massive run.'

Nannina bids to go two places better than in 2006, when she finished two lengths in arrears of star mare Ouija Board.

Fourth in the Falmouth Stakes last time, connections hope she can regain the form that saw her streak to an impressive victory at Royal Ascot on her penultimate outing.

Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: 'It's a very tough race but that sort of adds to the excitement really.

'I think it'll be a great contest with the two Oaks fillies (Peeping Fawn and Light Shift) in there but Nannina is in good form.

'Hopefully over this trip she will get a good pace, unlike at Newmarket.

'She's fourth favourite and that's probably where she should be in the market but she won really well at Ascot.

'She then ran a bit below-par at Newmarket, which isn't the first time she has disappointed and run below our expectations there.

'Hopefully, she'll bounce back as she did last year when it was no disgrace to be beaten by Ouija Board and Alexander Goldrun.'

Johnny Murtagh is in the middle of a real purple patch and has already partnered Peeping Fawn to Classic success in the Irish Oaks.

'It's going to be a great race and I'm really looking forward to it,' said the Irish rider.

'The three-year-olds are taking on the four-year-olds and it's a clash of the generations.

'She (Peeping Fawn) ran really well when she won the Pretty Polly and she looked like she improved again when she won the (Irish) Oaks. She may have been on the go a while but she has improved with each run.

'Light Shift beat us at Epsom but she improved to beat her at the Curragh.

'Peeping Fawn has beaten older horses before in the Pretty Polly over 10 furlongs so that has to be an advantage. I think she is the one they all have to beat.

'I haven't ridden her on fast ground before but she is a big, strong filly so that is probably why she handles soft ground so well.

'I think Aidan has always thought she would handle fast ground just as well.

'She is already a Group One winner at 10 and 12 furlongs so she doesn't have much to prove, she takes everything in her stride.

'She wasn't beaten far in the Irish Guineas so she has speed and stamina.

'It should be great and I'm really looking forward to it.'

(C) PA Sport