1000 Guineas Ante-Post Selection

Shale 20/1

Shale has been a superb stable star for Donnacha O'Brien so far winning three of her six outings to date and also placing in another.

The filly made her debut in a decent maiden where she ran no race, but came on massively for the first experience to get off the mark at Gowran Park on heavy ground.

She backed that up in a Group Three at Leopardstown before just falling short behind Pretty Gorgeous in a Group Two at the Curragh.

The daughter of Galileo stepped up for the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes over the same course and distance and reversed the form with the Joseph O'Brien runner to land her first black type event, with the good ground being crucial for her success.

She then headed to Newmarket last time out in the bet365 Fillies' Mile and could only finish sixth with the soft ground not playing to her strengths.

The three year old had his first run of the season at Leopardstown in the 1000 Guineas Trial over seven furlongs and finished fifth of 15 runners in the Grade Three event.

That was a perfect first run back to get herself fit for the Group One in May and if stepping forward looks a big price at 20/1.

There is a slight worry that she could avoid this race and head to the Irish Classic contest instead but at these odds it is worth taking a punt.