Jockey Johnny Murtagh is aiming for a dream start to his training career with Fort Knox in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday.

The multiple Group One-winning jockey has been assisting Tommy Carmody for the past couple of seasons, with a string for prominent owner Andrew Tinkler at Murtagh's Curragh yard.

Murtagh, who intends to keep riding, has now taken over the reins but Fort Knox no longer runs in Tinkler's colours after being bought by Sheikh Mohammed and will run in the famous maroon and white silks of Darley at the weekend.

"It's a big weekend and we've got a few entries," said Murtagh.

"Fort Knox has come out of his last race well and he's been doing everything nicely. Crucially he's had no hiccups since then.

"He's going nicely at home and I'm really looking forward to it.

"Sheikh Mohammed's team were obviously impressed with Fort Knox and I think a lot of it is to do with him being by Dubawi, who is the stallion of the moment.

"It's a big confidence boost that they left him with us. They saw he was being aimed at the Guineas and we train just down the road so they probably thought it was for the best.

"It will be some start if he can win, nobody can accuse us of not aiming high, anyway!"