Racing: Dancer in shape for Moyglare: Richard Edmondson on Newmarket's powerful hand in a prestigious Irish race

IF THE horses travel as smoothly as their trainers' patter, Sayyedati and Ancestral Dancer will provide a contest of some distinction in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh on Saturday.

Pessimism has never been an option for Clive Brittain and the Newmarket man was launching the bouquets again yesterday as he discussed the chances of the 1,000 Guineas ante-post favourite, Sayyedati.

The trainer reported that his filly had recovered from a blood disorder which ruled her out of a visit to Ireland for the Heinz '57' Stakes last month and was ready to run for her life. 'She worked with two three-year-old sprinters this morning and went extremely well,' he said. 'She definitely goes to The Curragh.'

His were not the only warm words coming out of Newmarket, however. Over at Fitzroy House, Michael Bell was, if anything, a short-head in front in the confidence race as he talked of capturing the most prestigious prize yet in his training career with Ancestral Dancer.

'My filly is on a par with King Paris (runner-up in the Group Three Solario Stakes last month), if not better, and I think she's going to run a big, big race,' he said. 'This is definitely the best chance we've had of winning a Group One race.'

Ancestral Dancer has been a regular visitor to the racecourse this season, but this has been the contest ringed on the calendar ever since since she won the first of her seven starts at Newmarket in April.

'She's been trained for the race all season and we deliberately missed Royal Ascot because this was always going to be her D-day,' Bell said. 'But we couldn't just have her in a box and look at her so we sent her on an intensive spell in Italy, three runs in three weeks. She never came off the bridle in any of those races and she's as fresh as anything now.'

The build-up was completed at Goodwood a month ago, when Ancestral Dancer was fourth in the Group Three Champagne Stakes. 'She had a 3lb penalty against the colts and she ran a good race on ground that was a bit firm for her,' Bell said. 'We were really just having a sighter there anyway.'

Bell respects rather than fears Sayyedati. 'She's very well bred and obviously a very decent filly, but I think we've got every chance because even though she won the the Cherry Hinton nicely I don't think it was a vintage race,' he said. 'The third (Mystic Goddess) was a bit too close for my liking.'

Four other British-trained horses - Bright Generation (Paul Cole), Nicer (Barry Hills), Twafeaj (Ben Hanbury) and City Times (Bryan McMahon) - were among the acceptors for the race at yesterday's declaration stage.

McMahon's motive for running suggests he has not been touched by the buoyancy on offer elsewhere. 'She was born in Ireland,' he said, 'and we feel she might as well have a go.'

MOYGLARE STUD STAKES (The Curragh, Saturday): Entries: Alouette, Ancestral Dancer, Asema, Babushka, Bright Generation, City Times, Nicer, Sabaya, Sayyedati, Special Pageant, Twafeaj.

(Photograph omitted)