Steinbeck among O'Brien's Guineas sextet

Steinbeck will make his eagerly awaited seasonal reappearance when heading a six-strong challenge from the Aidan O'Brien stable in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday.

The lightly-raced colt is drawn six of the 13 runners declared this morning, the same stall occupied by Mastercrasftsman who gave O'Brien a sixth success in the Classic 12 months ago.

The master of Ballydoyle has made no secret of the regard in which he holds the son of Footstepsinthesand.

Having finished fourth in the Dewhurst on only his second start, he was forced to miss the Newmarket Guineas after a little problem but it is all systems go now.

"We're going to run, it will be his first run of the year but he's just ready to run and hopefully he's ready to run a nice race.

"He won his conditions race really impressively, then he ran in the Dewhurst where he ran a lovely race but just got tired in last 50 yards.

"He was ready to run in the spring but had a little setback before Newmarket. Rather than force him and rush him, we gave him time and he's had it now.

"He's had a racecourse gallop, matured well and he's just ready to start back," he told At The Races.

O'Brien has also declared Fencing Master, Dynasty, Encompassing, Purple Heart and Viscount Nelson. However, he has withdrawn Jan Vermeer, Air Chief Marshal and Fighting Brave.

He said of Fencing Master:- "He's in good form, he came out of the race well."

"He's a grand, laid-back horse. He's had his run and maybe in an ideal world we'd have preferred it if they had gone a little bit faster for his first race back.

"Maybe that would have suited him for his first race back and helped him get into a rhythm as he is a little bit lazy.

"Since then our horses have been improving a good deal for their first run."

John Oxx is hoping Keredari will be up to the test after he made all over seven furlongs on this track on his reappearance last month.

"The ground at the Curragh was very holding, sticky sort of ground. I didn't think he'd handle it, but obviously he got through it better than the opposition," said the Currabeg trainer.

"I don't think he particularly has a ground preference. He won his maiden on good to firm, so time will tell.

"He's only had three races, we are still finding out a bit about him. Perhaps he'd have an advantage if the ground was soft, that's not going to be the case.

"Hopefully he's going to acquit himself well, he's an idle sort of horse at home. He's not a morning glory, he's a bit lazy so we've never had any view as to his level of his ability.

"We have to find out on the track and so far he's done nothing much wrong.

"I think he'll get the trip. There is plenty of speed in his family. He'll be fine, it was a really a stiff test over the seven on testing ground, so a mile on faster ground should be fine."

Ladbrokes' 11-4 favourite Canford Cliffs heads a strong British presence as the Newmarket 2000 Guineas third bids to give trainer Richard Hannon a third victory in this race.

The Clive Cox-trained Xtension, who was fourth at Newmarket, and Ralph Beckett's Oasis Dancer, complete the English challenge.

John Oxx has left in Keredari while Tommy Stack runs Noll Wallop. Jim Bolger's Free Judgement and Sebastian Flyte, trained by Frank Ennis, complete the field.

Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas, Ladbrokes bet: 11-4 Canford Cliffs, 3-1 Steinbeck, 5-1 Fencing Master, 6-1 Xtension, 7-1 Keredari, 8-1 Noll Wallop, 20-1 Viscount Nelson, Dynasty, Free Judgement, Oasis Dancer, 66-1 bar.