All Set To Go winning in Roscommon© Photo Healy Racing
Andrew Oliver is under no illusions about the task facing All Set To Go as he makes his seasonal reappearance in the Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial today.
The well-built Verglas colt shaped with genuine promise on his first two starts as a juvenile last season and got off the mark at the third time of asking at Roscommon at the beginning of September.
He was unable to make a significant impact on his final three starts of the year, but was not disgraced in good company when fourth in both the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh and Leopardstown's Killavullan Stakes.
Oliver said: "He's a lovely big horse and for that reason he could just need the run on Sunday. My other concern is the ground. Although he's a big, strong horse by Verglas and should handle conditions, any time he's run on softer ground he's been a bit disappointing. His best form is on good and good to firm ground, so that would have to be a worry.
"Hopefully he'll get the trip, although he didn't quite get home in the Beresford Stakes last year over a mile, so that is another little question mark. He's a horse I'm in no rush with as there is a long season ahead."
John Murphy sent Davids Park to Chepstow for his racecourse debut last September and he duly dotted up in a weak maiden. However, he was behind All Set To Go in the Killavullan and needs to raise his game to play a significant role this weekend.
Murphy said: "He's a maiden winner and we think he deserves to take his chance on Sunday, but I'm sure he'll improve for the run. He won in soft ground at Chepstow, even though he'd probably prefer better ground.
"I thought he was a bit unfortunate on his last run in Leopardstown and we thought we'd start him off here rather than going down the handicap route. We'll find out where we stand on Sunday."
The Dermot Weld-trained Go For Goal made an encouraging return when runner-up in a Curragh handicap last week, but jockey Pat Smullen admits his mount has far more on his plate in stronger company this weekend.
He said: "He ran really well under a big weight at the Curragh and came out of the race well. He's going to have to improve a bit to be competitive in a race like this, but he's fit and well and ready to take his chance."
A field of 10 are set to go to post for the Listed contest, with Aidan O'Brien saddling the unbeaten Indian Maharaja and Racing Post Trophy fifth Buonarroti John Oxx's Curragh maiden winner Ebanoran and Paul Deegan's consistent Shining Emerald also feature in a strong field.
