O'Brien upbeat about Minardi

Aidan O'Brien yesterday gave an upbeat bulletin on his apparent main Sagitta 2,000 Guineas hope, Minardi, but added that the Ballydoyle representation at Newmarket next weekend depends on some vital home gallops.

Minardi is a general 10 to 1 shot for the Guineas behind the Godolphin favourite, Tobougg, but O'Brien remained tightlipped about who will be boarding the Ballydoyle plane to Britain. Any horse going to Britain will have to remain there due to foot-and-mouth restrictions.

"The Guineas thing has not been sorted out just yet but we will probably decide on Tuesday or Wednesday. Minardi is a possible and it's also possible we could run more than one in the race," O'Brien said.

"Minardi is in good form and has done everything right so far. He's a clear-winded horse," added O'Brien who, when asked about the disappointing start made by some of his runners so far this season, replied: "None of the top two-year-olds of last year have run yet."

As for boarding arrangments in Britain once horses have arrived there, O'Brien said no plans have been finalised. The trainer has previously said, however, that Newmarket would be a logical centre for horses staying over in the UK. Today's domestic action centres on Sligo's first fixture of the year, which can provide jockey Eddie Ahern with his first winner of the season.

Last term was Ahern's best yet with 46 winners in Ireland, but he hasn't hit the scoreboard here since The Rort won at Leopardstown last November. Willyever will be faniced to put that right in the six-furlong handicap, where the John Bowles-trained runner has topweight of 10st.

Willyever won this race off a stone lighter rating last season but there was plenty to like about his third to Ridyan at the Curragh, where he also carried 10st and was slightly checked in the closing stages.

Dermot Weld's horses have hit the ground running so far this season and Bail Out The King, by the top stallion Kingmambo, will be short odds to score in the six-furlong maiden.

Another Curragh trainer in form is Jim Gorman, who already has notched up a couple of winners and declares an astonishing five horses for the apprentice handicap. They include the winners, Shoeless Joe and Christy Senior, and for good measure the champion claimer Tom Queally is on the first reserve, which is also a Gorman horse.

The trip might not help Gordon Power's efforts to anchor the hard-pulling Christy Senior, so possibly Shoeless Joe can emerge best in what may become a Gorman benefit.