Connections of Kingman have no concerns about travelling to the Curragh for Saturday's Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas.
John Gosden’s star colt lost his unbeaten record in the Guineas at Newmarket when beaten by Richard Hannon’s 40/1 shot Night Of Thunder, who had been easily brushed aside by Kingman in the Greenham at Newbury just a few weeks before.
Kingman is an odds-on favourite to claim his first Group One success this weekend and with rain around, he is expected to get his favoured conditions, too.
Teddy Grimthorpe, owner Khalid Abdullah’s racing manager, told At The Races: “He was broken in in Ireland so he’s not going to be a total stranger (to travelling). I wouldn’t be too concerned about that.
"I don't think anyone would want to see it being run in a bog, but he certainly won't mind any juice in the ground — in fact I'm sure he'll relish it." 'Worked nicely' "He came out of the race at Newmarket very well and has trained straightforwardly and worked very nicely on Saturday on the Limekilns," added Grimthorpe, who also said Noble Mission will take his chance in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Maarek could turn up in Saturday’s Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh after putting up one of his best ever performances at York last week. Trainer Evanna McCutcheon is keen to have the option of the Group Three as she is worried conditions may not be suitable for the seven-year-old at Royal Ascot.
“We’ve not ruled it out,” she said. “There’s very little rain forecast before Ascot when you look at the long-range forecasts, there could be some warm weather.
"He's come out of York fine and there's a bit of rain forecast at the end of this week at the Curragh which would suit him down to the ground. Whether he runs this week or not will not affect whether he goes to Ascot, there's still plenty of time. 'Best runs' "There's a race in France for him in early June but that might be getting a bit close. The way he won at York, giving a lot of weight to a Group One winner, you'd have to say it was one of his best runs last week."
Eddie Lynam’s Slade Power, a winner at Ascot on Champions Day, also has the option along with stablemate Viztoria.
Aidan O’Brien has a few interesting entries with Darwin, Guerre, Due Dilligence and Fountain Of Youth among his possibles.
Kevin Ryan’s Hamza may travel over from North Yorkshire while Dermot Weld’s Alkaaser, also in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, could take in the sprint instead.
