Balding bids to give Dettori fourth 2000 Guineas as Chaldean well-placed

Kingsclere’s Andrew Balding is confident he has Chaldean “right where he needs to be” ahead of the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next month.

Balding and Chaldean will be hoping to provide jockey Frankie Dettori with a “very special” victory in his final ride in the opening Classic of the season.

The legendary 52-year-old is targetting a fourth victory in the race on the famous Rowley Mile and his first since he won aboard Galileo Gold in 2016.

Last season, Dettori and the Juddmonte-owned colt teamed up to win the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster over seven furlongs before guiding him to Group 1 glory in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

And Balding feels the son of Frankel, who is unbeaten in his last four starts, is well-placed to step up in trip to a mile for the first time in the Guineas.

"I'm very happy with Chaldean and he is right where he needs to be," he told The Jockey Club's Graham Clark.

"He is working to a high level but in a relaxed manner and that is all we can ask for.

"The mile shouldn’t be a problem in the Guineas and I’d be surprised if he didn’t stay it.

“It would be very special if Chaldean could win it for Frankie.

"He is still riding plenty of winners and he is as good and as hungry as he has ever been.

“It would be lovely to try and give him the ammunition to win the 2000 Guineas.”

Prior to lining up at Newmarket, Chaldean is set to begin his season in the Group 3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury on April 22.

The three-year-old made his debut at the track last June before winning for the first time in West Berkshire the following month.

“The intention is to run at Newbury in the Greenham as prep for the 2000 Guineas," Balding said.

“He improved with racing last year so we were keen to get a run in before the Guineas so the Greenham is the plan."