Wall looking forward to Guineas

Chris Wall today revealed that he may be double-handed in the Stan James 1000 Guineas next month.

The Newmarket-based trainer, whose only previous Classic runner was 1987 Derby contestant Romantic Prince, plans to send Wake Up Maggie straight to the Group One fillies’ race on May 7.

But it also looks likely the daughter of Xaar will be joined in the Rowley Mile showdown by stable-mate Expensive.

The Royal Applause filly has a tidy piece of form next to her name in the shape of a valuable Newbury success where she took the scalp of Flashy Wings.

But – on paper, at least – Wake Up Maggie, 25-1 for Guineas’ glory, appears to hold the stronger claims, having scored in an Irish sales event at the Curragh before finishing second to Donna Blini in the Cheveley Park Stakes last October.

Wall said: “Fitness-wise, Wake Up Maggie is exactly where I’d like her to be at this stage. We intend to go straight to the Guineas and obviously the next three weeks are crucial.

“We’ll try and get a racecourse gallop into her somewhere along the line - maybe at Newmarket next week.”

Wake Up Maggie has yet to be campaigned over further than six furlongs. But Wall is optimistic that his charge will see out the mile.

He added: “Alan Munro who won on her in Ireland and rode her in the Cheveley Park, said, ‘Don’t be afraid to send her further’.

“I think she has got every chance of staying the mile. Her dam won over a mile as a two-year-old in Ireland while her sire Xaar certainly stayed the mile.

“I also encourage myself by thinking that she’s quite a relaxed filly, so I’m sure that will give her every chance.”

No stamina doubts surround Expensive, who seems set to get her 2006 campaign underway in the 1000 Guineas.

He commented: “I don’t know if she’s a live shot for the Guineas but if you’ve paid your entry fee, you might as well take your chance.

“She beat Flashy Wings last year, so we might just give her a run in the Guineas. At least we’ll know where we stand with her after we’ve done that.

“It will be either that race or we might run her in the Pretty Polly at the same meeting. She is shaping up like a filly who may go more than a mile.

“But I think the owner fancies having a runner in a Classic, so we might well head in that direction. She’d go straight there, too.”