Smullen gets to know Marcel Peter Chapple-Hyam liked what he saw as Marcel worked with an older stable companion at Newmarket on Thursday morning. The Racing Post Trophy winner is due to take in both the English and French 2000 Guineas so will not have a prep run before the Newmarket Classic on April 30. Now owned by Peter Makin, he was ridden in the gallop by his new jockey Pat Smullen. "I just wanted to bring him here as he needed it," said Chapple-Hyam. "That was always the plan and in two weeks' time he should be spot-on. "Because the French Guineas is only two weeks after the English Guineas, if we are thinking about doing both we didn't want him to have a third run. "He'll come up here for another gallop but he needed that very badly as I've been very light with him. "I've been very happy with him over the winter but he does need to improve and he needs to find a bit more speed. "I watched Air Force Blue win the Dewhurst the other day and it did make me choke on my tea but beside him it's an open race." Smullen said: "I was very happy with him and he worked very nicely. "He travelled well in the piece of work but he needed it, he's a very laid-back type of colt. "He gave me a lovely feel and I was very pleased with how he felt this morning and in two weeks' time he should be spot-on. "He seemed to handle the dip really well, which some horses don't do, so there are a lot of positives. "Air Force Blue is the horse to beat as he was very impressive last year, but it's a horse race, at the end of the day, and anything can happen and I could not be more pleased with the one I'm going to ride in the race. "I think he would get further but there's no doubt he's not short of pace. I think a mile at the moment is ideal for him. "Going into the race without a run holds no fears at all, as we know Peter can ready one for the day."
