Burke eyes up Guineas with Shanakill

Karl Burke could send Lord Shanakill straight to the Stan James 2000 Guineas without a prep run following his fine effort in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes.

The Mill Reef Stakes winner went down by just a nose to Intense Focus in the seven-furlong Group One at Newmarket on Saturday. It was the fourth time the colt had been placed in Pattern company.

Burke will now aim his stable star at the Classic but he will give the trials a miss if the ground was soft.

“He’s come out the race A1, no problems at all. He looks tremendous this morning,” said the North Yorkshire trainer.

“Obviously we were delighted with the run, but it was a shame he couldn’t quite get that extra inch out of him. It just needed a couple more strides for him to get his head in front.

“But we have a lot to look forward to with the horse.

“He’ll be aimed at the Guineas now. After the race Jim Crowley was adamant he’d get the extra furlong and I would agree with him.

“Hopefully with a clear run through the winter he’ll be a force to be reckoned with next spring.

“We’ll sit down and work out a training plan for him. My initial reaction is that I wouldn’t run him on soft ground in any of the trials. We’ll have to see. Take it as it comes

“He’s a clean winded horse and I wouldn’t mind going there without a run.”

Lord Shanakill is a best-priced 33-1 for Guineas glory next May.