HAVING operated at a very healthy strike rate of 30% in Ireland last season, Paddy Twomey looks set for another big year. The Tipperary trainer has already sent out Group 1 winners, so a classic has to be next on the shopping list.

Impact Warrior is a candidate to get that done for him. The daughter of Saxon Warrior raced just once last season, running out a comfortable winner of a Roscommon maiden where she beat a solid 90-rated performer in Goa Gajah.

She takes on 13 other fillies for her second start tomorrow in the Ballylinch Stud Priory Belle 1,000 Guineas Trial (3.10) which looks set to be the most informative contest on a quality card at Leopardstown.

“She won nicely at Roscommon,” Twomey told The Irish Field. “It wasn’t the plan to leave her off then for the rest of the season but it’s just the way things worked out.

“I think she’ll handle the ground (likely to be soft). It was raining the evening she won and this is only her second run of her life. I think she will be versatile enough ground wise. She is a good filly and we’re looking forward to running her.”

Donnacha O’Brien is double-handed in the race, but his two runners could not have more contrasting profiles. La Dolce Vita is the most experienced filly in the field having had eight starts last season while Not Even Close, who has been bought into by Qatar Racing and will be ridden by Oisin Murphy, has only one run to her name - at Dundalk in September.

“La Dolce Vita is a solid filly,” O’Brien said. “She has some high class form. I think she’ll handle the soft ground. We’re not sure what her trip is going to be this year so we’re on a bit of a fact finding mission this Sunday.

“With Not Even Close, it’s about finding out where she is. We’re not sure about the ground with her. I think she could be much better on a sounder surface but she works like a high class filly.”

Dermot Weld won this contest with Homeless Songs last season and has Tarawa for the race. She impressed over the course and distance for her maiden win, beating Bold Discovery, who has a chance to boost that form in the opening maiden.

Donnacha O’Brien also has Alder in the Ballysax (3.45). He was last seen finishing third to Auguste Rodin in the Champions Juvenile Stakes and faces another Ballydoyle colt in Alexandroupolis, who will be the likely favourite.

“Alder has done well from two to three,” O’Brien said. “We’re very happy with him and he is working well. He is a horse who is going to be happy on a sounder surface so depending on how bad the ground is, we’ll have to see, but whatever he does, he’ll be better on a sounder surface.”

Alexandroupolis was backed for the Derby this week (general 14/1 shot). He impressed in a Galway maiden, for what was his only start last term.

Aidan O’Brien should win the 2,000 Guineas Trial (2.35) with Hans Anderson.

The Frankel colt was last seen finishing fifth to Al Riffa in the National Stakes. He is 66/1 shot for the 2000 Guineas and 50/1 for the Derby.