Racing:David Wachman believes Again is a stronger filly this season as she prepares to make her return to action in the Boylesports.com Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh on Sunday.
The mount of Johnny Murtagh enjoyed a hugely productive juvenile campaign, winning the Debutante Stakes at Leopardstown before recording a Group One victory in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.
As those victories both came in testing ground, Wachman has every reason to be optimistic although he believes conditions this weekend are unlikely to suit any horse on show.
"I don't think the ground will suit any horse but it happened to be like this, although not quite as bad, when she won her Group Two and Group One last year. This is the Guineas so we thought we'd let her take her chance," he said.
"She definitely doesn't want it firm. She had two hard races on very heavy ground last season and as she was a big weak filly, it probably took its toll a little bit. She was never really going the last day at Longchamp.
"She seems to have strengthened up and I've been pleased with all her work to date.
"We'll have to see what happens but the bookies seem to think she has a leading chance anyway."
Wachman is mob-handed in the fillies' Classic with Always Be True, Chintz and Love Bird giving the County Tipperary handler a quartet of chances.
"Always Be True was a filly we liked a lot last year but she had a setback and we never got her to the races," Wachman continued. "She always worked nicely on soft ground and while she has only won a maiden and it is a big step up, she has been entered up in this all along so we thought we would take our chance.
"Chintz handles the soft ground and won the C.L Weld Park Stakes last season so she is entitled to take her chance and she has been pleasing me at home. The Irish Guineas was always on her radar.
"Love Bird is another one who only won a maiden the last day but she did it well and has always shown us plenty at home. She too deserves to take her chance."
Dance Pass represents the Moyglare Stud who went agonisingly close with runner-up Mad About You 12 months ago - and whose colours were carried to victory in this race by Trusted Partner 21 years ago.
The daughter of Sadler's Wells booked her place in the Classic when opening her account in a maiden at Naas earlier this month.
"She's doing well, but Dermot (Weld) has three in it and she should be the outsider of the trio," said Moyglare's manager Stan Cosgrove. "She is improving - she won last week at Naas and she likes the soft ground.
"The ground is going to be very soft on Sunday."
Weld is also represented in the fillies' Classic by Rare Ransom and Luminous Eyes, the latter being ridden by Mick Kinane.
"Luminous Eyes has some decent form on soft ground from last year. I sat on her the other morning and she seems in good shape so she has an each-way chance," said the jockey.
Clive Brittain decided against sending over Nashmiah as he feels the race will come too soon following her victory in testing conditions at York last week.
The veteran Newmarket trainer will now aim her at the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
"She's going to wait for Ascot," said Brittain. "She's in very good form. It's just the race would have come a bit soon after a race on heavy ground and it would be heavy in Ireland anyway."
Jim Bolger's English Guineas runner-up, Cuis Ghaire, has been declared in a bid to go one better.
She will be joined by stablemates Duaisbhanna and Oh Goodness Me.
Aidan O'Brien's Heart Shaped is a notable absentee, but the Ballydoyle handler is still represented by Totally Devoted.