Gypsy King could head O'Brien's Derby list

Focus on Aidan O'Brien's yard: With just four more days to the 2,000 Guineas and only six weeks to the Derby there was even more than the usual intensity about yesterday's media invasion of Ballydoyle, so let's make with the supposed inside line straight away.

If Footstepsinthesand doesn't, at the very least, go close at the weekend in Newmarket, and if Gypsy King doesn't wind up with a big chance at Epsom, then there are going to be a lot of glum faces down in south Tipperary come June.

Significantly, though, if there is any pre-Classic anxiety present then Aidan O'Brien is a master of disguise. Of course all geese are swans before the ruthless test of the racecourse, but there was still a noticeably calm confidence about the man with one of the most pressurised jobs in racing.

Indeed, despite the parade of blue-blooded equine talent on show under the spring sun, it was the relationship between O'Brien and his new stable jockey Kieren Fallon that grabbed the eye just as much as any multi-million thoroughbred.

Pretty understandably Fallon eyed the hack pack the way a fat man looks at a steep hill, but it was still clear he and O'Brien have hit it off big time.

"I've never known a jockey to love horses so much," said the younger man approvingly. "He is so conscious of what's best for the horse, always thinking of the next day. He's here almost every day riding out, and mentally and physically he is in great shape."

In turn, asked if he missed the daily grind of travelling to the Pontefracts and Ripons of this world, Fallon even managed to rise a slight grin. Such routine is a thing of the past. With the firepower of Ballydoyle behind him, the priority now is to get to know the raw material underneath him.

"It's very exciting to come here every morning, go through the gates, ride on the gallops: there's a whole lot of history here," said the Co Clare native who now lives nearby.

"All good trainers have their own ways. Henry (Cecil) has his, Stoutey has a different way, and so has Aidan. If you can compare them, though, it is that they all train each horse as an individual," Fallon added.

Of course some are more individual than others and among the close on 140-strong are a bunch of Classic contenders that could yet progress to becoming the end product at stud that is the essence of the Ballydoyle-Coolmore operation.

Footstepsinthesand, unbeaten in two last year, and Fallon's likely Guineas mount, has matured into a seriously impressive looking colt. Oratario, the other Newmarket hope, was a Group One winner last season, but true to form has been enjoying the easy life at home.

"Oratario only does just enough at home whereas Footstepsinthesand is a very enthusiastic worker. He wants to please and as a result he could be more forward than the other colt. Footstepsinthesand has fierce early tactical speed. He could be anything," said O'Brien who confirmed that John Murtagh will ride Fallon's discard in the Guineas.

Virginia Waters will fly the flag in the 1,000 while George Washington, a half-brother to Grandera, will be a first two-year-old runner of the season in Britain on Saturday. Don't be surprised to see him win.

The likes of Grand Central (Derrinstown Trial), Almighty (Chester Vase), Yehudi (Lingfield Trial) and Albert Hall (Dante) will all get the chance to earn an Epsom ticket, but the loud whisper is that Gypsy King can top that list if he is impressive in the Dee Stakes next week.

"Kieren feels he needs to learn a good bit if he is to be an Epsom horse, so Chester should help. He had a slight setback when he scoped bad, but he had been working real well before that," said O'Brien.

Of course the presence of Yeats, the Derby favourite last year until injury sent him to the sidelines, is a constant reminder that presumption can be punished.

But the mood and the atmosphere down Cashel way right now indicates that last year's relatively poor Group One tally was only a temporary blip.

OLDER HORSES

Yeats: "We have had a perfect run with him this season and the Mooresbridge Stakes is a possible. He did plenty of work last backend when he returned from injury, but there was no point running him then."

Powerscourt: "He is still in quarantine having got a cough in Dubai. He is a horse that thrives on travelling so there should be some races in America that would suit."

Antonius Pius: "He is doing well and we will bring him back in the Lockinge at Newbury."

Ace: "I thought he ran a great race in the Ganay on Sunday and Kieren says he is a genuine Group One horse. The Tattersalls Gold Cup will be next."

Airwave: "She was unlucky the last day and Kieren said he should have taken his time more. We will look to run her at a mile in the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes."

THREE YEAR OLDS

Footstepsinthesand: "He could be anything and it will be wicked interesting to see how he far he could stretch out in distance. He is a big, rangy horse, full of enthusiasm and he trains himself. We're very pleased with him."

Oratario: "All he does is eat and sleep, but last year showed he is a real hard-knocking racing horse. I hope he is fit enough for the Guineas but I would imagine he will definitely come on for it."

Gypsy King: "Won his only race at two from a tape start so Kieren feels he will need to learn more if he's to be an Epsom horse."

Grand Central: "I think we will see a different horse in the Derrinstown. He should improve a lot for his first run of the season."

Albert Hall: "He is going for the Dante at York. Good ground will suit him a lot better."

Tiger Dance: "A full brother to Giant's Causeway who has done very well. He has to have fast ground and we will look at the French Guineas."

Almighty: "Kieren liked him before he ran in the Ballysax and he was easy on him. But we feel he might have been swinging the lead a bit, so the gloves will be off in the Chester Vase."

Ad Valorem: "He might have a race before Ascot but we're taking our time with him. We could give him a chance to get a mile but he has loads of speed."

Emerald Cat: "We like him a lot and the Tetrarch will be next. He could be one for the Irish Guineas."

Kitty O'Shea: "She is a bit lame again today but X-rays have found nothing. She is a very good filly and we've always thought of her as one for the Oaks."