O'Brien: St Nic has thrived during winter

Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien is confident would-be superstar St Nicholas Abbey is fit enough to do himself justice in the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.

The Montjeu colt rounded off an unbeaten juvenile campaign with a brilliant success in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster and now heads the betting for both this weekend's Classic and the Derby at Epsom.

The Ballydoyle handler expects his charge to improve for his first appearance of the year, but could not be happier with his current condition.

"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."

O'Brien has two more strings to his bow in Fencing Master, a narrow second to stablemate Beethoven in last season's Dewhurst Stakes, and Viscount Nelson, the mount of former Ballydoyle stable jockey Kieren Fallon.

"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," O'Brien added.

"Viscount Nelson has had a run already this year. We think that he has come forward from his run, we are very happy with him and hope that he runs a good race."