NAYEF ON TRACK

Marcus Tregoning dismissed weather worries today as Nayef strengthened his grip on the ante-post Classic market without leaving his box.

He stressed that neither rain nor frost had hindered his training of the colt, favourite to emulate half-brother Nashwan with victory in both the Sagitta 2000 Guineas and Vodafone Derby.

Nayef, unbeaten in two outings last year and rated Europe`s top juvenile by Timeform, has had his odds cut by Ladbrokes for both the Guineas - from 4-1 into 7-2 - and Derby - 8-1 from 10-1.

And his trainer reported: 'He is very well and in very good form.

'It has been wet but we are very lucky as we have got the Polytrack all-weather gallop right next to us and we haven`t stopped at all.

'It has been quite cold of late but we have kept going and I am happy with him.'

Tregoning also denied that his yard`s past tendency to take time to find his form was a concern, with the Guineas run just six weeks into the turf season - which starts on Thursday.

'The horses are quite well forward for us,' he said.

'We have started slowly in the past but that was because the horses weren`t right - it`s not that they weren`t fit but that they weren`t well.

'But they have been fine so far - although you never know what`s round the corner.'

Tregoning, who reports Albarahin 'in good form' for his bid to give the Lambourn stable a flying start in Thursday`s Listed Doncaster Mile, has yet to finalise plans for a possible prep race for Nayef at nearby Newbury.

'I don`t know whether he will run in the Greenham,' he said.

'We may give him a race if he is getting too fresh but I haven`t discussed it yet with Sheikh Hamdan.'