Murtagh gets the Ballydoyle call-up

Johnny Murtagh is looking forward to teaming up with one of Aidan O’Brien’s three possible runners in the Stan James 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday.

He is on stand-by to partner the Ballydoyle yard’s second string, with stable jockey Kieren Fallon having first choice.

“His fillies did nothing wrong last year. Rumplestiltskin was a real champion. Her performance in Longchamp was the best seen by a two-year-old and if she comes out of the winter well, which she should, she should be very hard to beat,” Murtagh told At The Races.

“Race For The Stars is a lovely, big, scopey filly and I saw her win at Newmarket,” he added.

O’Brien has also left Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial winner Karaminskaya in the £330,000 (€478,700) feature, for which 18 fillies stood their ground at the five-day confirmation stage.

The home challenge is led by Flashy Wings, who will be out to provide Mick Channon with his first victory in a domestic Classic.