The John Dunlop-trained Muthabara (Red Ransom - Hureya, by Woodman) hasn't run since beating Lady Deauville to win a Sandown Listed contest last July, since when she has received substantial support for the 1000 Guineas. She justified that support in the Group Three Fred Darling Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury on Saturday, flying home from an unpromising position to win well.

Still backward in her coat, Muthabara raced in a group of three to take advantage of better ground but was well adrift with quarter of a mile to run. Tacking over to the main group, she took time to find her stride, but a furlong out she picked up magnificently to sweep past her rivals, winning cosily in the end.

Dream Day was a length and a quarter down in second, and Lady Deauville a further three quarters adrift in third.

As jockey Richard Hills said after the race, the last furlong was her best furlong, and she will have no problem seeing out a mile or even further. Of the main protagonists for the 1000 Guineas seen this week, Muthabara looked by far the most backward, and a substantial improvement on this form could be on the cards.