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French trainer Nicolas Clement is looking to improve his curious record in England when the Criterium International winner French Fifteen runs in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket this weekend.

"He is all ready to go. I don't think he wants extremes of going - not too yielding and not too fast, but if it is just on the soft side of good that will be fine for him.

"We will see if handles the track. He has performed well on a straight course before, so hopefully he will do well.

"He has done really well since the Prix Djebel and I think he has improved a bit too, so I am very happy.

"He has experience and he has fitness, so it is very exciting. It would be fantastic for the owner, who sponsors the race. He bought the colt during the winter.

"I have not had many runners in Britain. Stormy River was second to Araafa in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"The only winner I have had in Britain was in a Catterick bumper!

"It would be fantastic to win the Guineas. If the horse finishes in the first four, I'll be happy."

John Gosden is under no illusions as to the task facing Fencing, who took a Listed race in fine style at Newbury in August but was left trailing behind Camelot in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

"He was meant to run in the Craven, but he got a puncture in his foot which meant he was unable to run.

"He needs a race and you have to start the season somewhere," Gosden said.

"Realistically he needs to improve a good deal to turn the tables with the favourite from Doncaster and it wasn't the plan to come here without a run.

Roger Charlton admits Top Offer will need to show "considerable" improvement if he is to win the 2000 Guineas.

The once-raced colt was an impressive winner of a Newbury maiden last season, but missed his intended trial in the Greenham Stakes due to very soft ground, and the trainer still harbours doubts about his ability to be seen at his best in those conditions.

"Top Offer has been our big hope since last August and finally we are nearly there. He is a wonderful looking colt with great presence and an easy action that may not be suited by the soft ground," said the Beckhampton handler.

"He has to show considerable improvement from his easy maiden victory last August at Newbury. It looks competitive, as you would expect, with three good colts from France and three from Ireland in the field.

"His work has been good but we won't know until we try as to whether he is quite up to this class, but I am sure he is a Group horse."

Aidan O'Brien insists he has not "forced" Camelot to be ready in time for the race. The eclipse of St Nicholas Abbey two years ago is still a raw memory for the Ballydoyle team and they admit it took him a good year to get over those exertions.

With Camelot by the same sire in Montjeu, and having followed the Racing Post Trophy route, comparison has been drawn, but while O'Brien was reluctant to commit the unbeaten colt to the Classic until only recently, the last few weeks have seen him discuss his chances in a far more bullish mode.

"He's never run in a big field, but he's a straightforward horse and a relaxed horse at home. Obviously the bigger the field the more dangers there are, but I don't think it's going to be a problem," O'Brien said.

"If the horse wasn't going to be ready for the Guineas we didn't want to be forcing him so we were letting him tell us. He's been coming along nicely and everything has gone smoothly so far. I'd imagine so (he'll get further). His two runs were over a mile last year and we're using this as a start-off race."

Camelot will be ridden by O'Brien's son Joseph, who said: "It's going to be his first run of the year so he should improve from it, but he's been doing everything nicely. He won very impressively at Doncaster and was in control all the way. He's a very uncomplicated horse, he takes no work at home. He has it all."