Fallon has faith in Viscount
The three-year-old is certainly bred for the job as a son of multiple Group One winner Giant’s Causeway and being out of Irish Guineas and Epsom Oaks winner Imagine.
Results on the racecourse so far have been mixed though, with just two successes from six starts and he was well held in second in the Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial on his seasonal reappearance.
As a result, Viscount Nelson heads to Newmarket as the outsider of a trio of runners for Aidan O’Brien that includes hot favourite St Nicholas Abbey, but Fallon is keen on his chances.
The six times champion jockey, who has won the season’s first Classic on four occasions, said: “With Aidan’s, what you can call second or third strings, he can produce with them as well and this horse has got what it takes to win a Guineas.
“It’s just about getting him there on the line as he’s a horse that needs to be produced late and Aidan was telling me he has a lot of ability.
“I’m not going there with just a ride, I’m going there with a live chance.”
While many believe St Nicholas Abbey simply has to turn up to win, Fallon is not of that opinion and feels the hot favourite has plenty of obstacles to overcome.
“I don’t think any Guineas is really a cakewalk,” the jockey told At The Races.
“Sea The Stars was highly impressive last year and before that you go back to Zafonic and I was on King’s Best and George Washington, but this year I think it could be a bit different.
“I know St Nicholas Abbey is a real good horse and he made the field look very ordinary when he won the Racing Post Trophy in soft ground.
“But it’s going to be a big field on Saturday and there is a question about where the pace is going to come from, so there is a lot of weighing up to do.”
O’Brien is confident would-be superstar St Nicholas Abbey is fit enough to do himself justice and is also pleased with Viscount Nelson and Fencing Master’s progress.
“St Nicholas Abbey seems to be in good form, his preparation has gone well and he has thrived through the winter,” the trainer told his website www.aidanobrien.ie.
“Obviously it is his first run of the season and like all of our horses he should improve from the run but he is naturally a very fit, athletic horse and we are looking forward to seeing him run.
“Fencing Master seems to be well also, his preparation has also gone very well, he is ready to start back and we hope that he runs well.”
