Snake primed to rattle Curragh big guns

Brendan Duke has no qualms about pitching once-raced Sammy The Snake in with the big guns in the Boylesports 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday.

The son of Diktat has not raced since making a winning debut in the opening juvenile race of the season over five furlongs on the same course 14 months ago.

Even though the Lambourn-based Irishman has had to give his 66-1 outsider a rushed preparation as he takes on Newmarket 2000 Guineas principals Henrythenavigator and New Approach, he is looking forward to the challenge.

“We are all systems go for the 2000 Guineas,” said Duke.

“I’m not a person who believes in misleading anyone and I’ve been in a really tight schedule with this horse.

“I would have loved to have had another fortnight with him, but he’s really tough and has taken in his stride everything I’ve asked him to do.

“My horse will go on any ground. But there is definitely a few horses in the race who wouldn’t to run if the ground was good to soft.

“We are looking forward to the race on Saturday,” he told At The Races.