THERE was mixed information coming from owner Khalid Abullah's team yesterday ahead of the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday in that Hot Snap, so impressive in the recent Nell Gwyn Stakes, is reported to be ready for the big day.

On the down side, Abullah's other intended runner, Big Break, will miss the race and may well wait for either the French or Irish versions.

It transpires that the Dermot Weld-trained Big Break may not be quite ready to make her seasonal debut. At this stage, the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh on May 26 appears a likely option, although the Group 3 winner is also in the French equivalent a fortnight earlier.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Abullah, said yesterday: "We're going to see. She just needs a little more time. She has the option of the French Guineas. However, at this stage I would say the Irish Guineas would be a bit more likely."

As regards Hot Snap, ante-post favourite for the Newmarket classic, Grimthorpe said: "She's fine and is in good shape."

Elsewhere, it seems rain has seldom been too far away recently but not enough has fallen on Newmarket's racing surface for trainer David Nagle to risk running his stable star Maarek in the Palace House Stakes on Saturday afternoon.

The thing is, Maarek really likes the mud and made the most of a wet summer last year to win five times during a fantastic campaign, enjoying his best day with success in the Champions Sprint at Ascot in October.

He made a most impressive return to action in the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Naas last month and Nagle will look for some give in the ground before deciding on his next target. The trainer said: "There would need to be a good bit of rain for him to be going to Newmarket and I don't think there's any forecast. There is a race at Longchamp the following weekend [Prix de Saint-Georges] and it's more likely he'll get his ground there, so we could wait for that.

"Then there is the race in York [Duke Of York Stakes, May 15] and the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh [May 25]. All of those races are within the space of about two weeks and he'll go wherever he will get a bit of ease in the ground."

This afternoon, Mission Approved (4.50) is worth noting when he makes his handicap introduction for Sir Michael Stoute at Lingfield.

*Estimate staked a good claim for the Gold Cup at the Royal meeting when making a successful seasonal debut in the Queen's colours in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot.

The four-year-old 2-1 favour-ite, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, lifted the Queen's Vase over this two miles last summer at the Royal meeting and repeated the trick in this Group 3 contest.

*Richard Hannon is renowned as a top trainer of two-year-olds and Anticipated looks one of his best early prospects after he maintained his unbeaten record at Ascot yesterday.

Jockey Richard Hughes went for home on Anticipated (5-2) two furlongs out. He was strongly pressed by the favourite, Justice Day, but always seemed to have his measure, coming home clear.

"I thought I'd just have one good go, I think three of us were thinking the same thing, but with two left I said 'let's go' and he quickened up well," said Hughes.

Hannon and said: "A lot of mine look like six-furlong horses and I'm not going to rush them. This is a backward horse, he's tall enough but he's all on the leg. He hasn't come in his coat yet and I'm going to leave him alone for a bit."