Darryll Holland's extra motivation to break Classic duck

There is growing confidence that Lahaleeb can cause a surprise in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and give jockey Darryll Holland an elusive first British Classic.

And Holland knows that there would be no more popular winner than trainer Mick Channon.

It has been a rough couple of years for the former England striker. He lost close friends Alan Ball and Peter Osgood, then suffered serious injuries in a car crash last August, which claimed the life of another good friend, bloodstock agent Tim Corby.

"Mick is doing well physically, but the pain of something like that never goes," said Holland. "It's been very tough on him but he is always positive and is coping."

Channon, 60, should have won last year's 1,000 Guineas but Nahoodh and jockey Richard Hughes found their path blocked at crucial moments.

Now Holland is hoping Lahaleeb - the daughter of Redback, who was third under the jockey in the 2,000 Guineas seven years ago - will put matters right. "Lahaleeb is notoriously lazy at home and she was earlier in the week," he said. "She wouldn't beat a plater on the gallops, but saves her best for when it matters."

Lahaleeb won the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket in October on her ninth and final juvenile start and slogged gamely through the Newbury mud to win the Fred Darling Stakes over the same trip to start her three-year-old campaign.

The filly is 12-1 with Stan James and Holland added: "That Newbury run will have brought her on a lot and she has form on the track, which is a plus. She looks to have a great chance."