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Lemaire has high hopes for Natagora
02/05/08 10:03
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 Jockey Christophe Lemaire is confident Natagora can justify her status as favourite for Sunday's 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
French fillies have struggled to make an impact in the classic in recent years, with no cross-channel raider winning since Hatoof in 1992.
However, Natagora (7/2 at Ladbrokes) experienced success at Newmarket in the Cheveley Park Stakes last year and Lemaire sees no reason why she cannot win again.
"She knows the track, the jockey knows the track. Natagora, we know, is already a special animal. She has the temperament and the body, which are the qualities that you need to be a champion," he told the Daily Telegraph.
Lemaire added that Infallible and Muthabara are likely to be the main challengers to his ride.
The bookmakers appear to agree with that assessment and John Gosden's Infallible is best-priced at 4/1 with Ladbrokes, while the John Dunlop-trained Muthabara is available at 9/2 with Paddy Power.
James Fanshawe's Spacious is 5/1 at Totesport, but the rest of the field can be backed at odds of 10/1 or longer.
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