Bolger happy with New Approach

Racing : Jim Bolger reports no worries for New Approach as the red-hot favourite attempts to provide his trainer with a first…

Racing: Jim Bolger reports no worries for New Approach as the red-hot favourite attempts to provide his trainer with a first victory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.

Co Carlow-based Bolger has enjoyed more success with fillies than colts during his career and won the 1000 Guineas 12 months ago with Finsceal Beo.

Last year he also had the winter favourite for the 2000 Guineas in Teofilo, who never reached the Rowley Mile due to injury, but Bolger has the perfect replacement in the 200th renewal of the season's first Classic.

New Approach won exactly the same five races as Teofilo in his juvenile campaign, including the Group One National and Dewhurst Stakes.

READ MORE

Trading at 6-4 favourite with the sponsors, Bolger brushed away any concerns about a potentially difficult draw of stall two for the chestnut colt, who has also displayed a measure of temperament during his career.

"All is well," said Bolger. "The draw is the draw and that can't be changed, ditto for the ground. You could never describe him as cool, calm and collected but he's absolutely fine."

Aidan O'Brien is in pursuit of his fifth victory and saddles Plan and Henrythenavigator, who has a bit to find with New Approach on their run in Futurity Stakes when they were first and third.

O'Brien said: "I am happy with Henrythenavigator and he is ready to start. I hope the ground is decent for him. Plan is a Storm Cat horse who improved from his first run to his second.

"He is a good-moving horse who will appreciate nice ground."