Andersen has classic options after winning return

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Hans Andersen quickened up nicely to seal a cosy victory in the Ballylinch Stud 2,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown this afternoon.

Ryan Moore settled behind the leaders on the 8/13 shot before producing him to claim front-running stablemate Carracci over a furlong from home.

The Frankel colt soon put the race to bed, going on to record a two-and-a-half length victory. Bold Discovery stayed on into second without threatening the winner.

Hans Andersen had been second in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh last season and was last seen finishing fifth in the National Stakes after cutting out the running.

Hans Andersen - he lays down his Classic credentials with glory in the 2000 Guineas Trial for @Ballydoyle &; Ryan Moore @LeopardstownRC

🏇 Five runs
🥇 Two wins
🏆 G3 scorer
👀 33/1 for the 2000 Guineas pic.twitter.com/vAmM19dHkX

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 2, 2023

O'Brien said:- “I'm delighted with him. He could look at the French Guineas or the Irish Guineas on the way to the French Derby.

“He had experience from last year. He quickened up well and is a very good mover. He's obviously a good ground horse, he moves very long and low. That's not his ground but he got through it.

“It's never ideal (running on heavy ground) but we always run if we can at all. It's never going to suit every horse all the time but at least he got started. All that could happen is that he might not win.”

Paddy Power made the winner a 33/1 shot (from 50/1) for the 2,000 Guineas.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)