Derby Favourite, Kingsbarns, Remains A 2000 Guineas Doubt

Connections of Kingsbarns, one of last season’s leading juvenile colts and currently the ante-post favourite on Betfair for the Investec Derby at Epsom on June 1, have yet to make a final decision as to whether he will be ready to take his chance in the first classic of the season, the Qipco 2000 Guineas.

The imposing son of Galileo has been a drifter in the ante-post market for the Newmarket classic on May 4, following the revelation that the Aidan O’Brien-trained three-year-old developed an infection shortly after tearing off a shoe while galloping at the Curragh prior to the first meeting of the season at the home of Irish Flat racing on March 25.

O’Brien expressed concern at the time that last year’s Grade 1 Racing Post Trophy winner may not have enough time to reach full fitness ahead of the showcase mile event, implying that he may instead take his chance in the Derrinstown Stud Stakes at Leopardstown or the Betfred Dante Stakes at York.

A market drifter from 8/1 out to 16/1 in places for the 2000 Guineas, Kingsbarns – whose pedigree suggests he may well prove best suited by middle distances – remains a solid 5/1 favourite for the Investec Derby in the Timeform Smartplays, a race his handler has won three times before, including last season with the high-class Camelot.

Kingsbarns, bred by O’Brien’s wife, Anne Marie, and owned by the Coolmore syndicate bosses, Messrs Tabor, Magnier, and Smith, made a belated racecourse debut in October last term winning a mile maiden at Navan in fine style before being stepped up to Group 1 company just 17 days later.

He belied his relative inexperience to comfortably account for the talented Van Der Neer – winner of the listed International Trial Stakes at Lingfield already this term – by a length-and-three-quarters.