Karl Burke is more stressed by Liverpool's recent slump than his Guineas bid... as the trainer has high hopes of claiming a Classic double at Newmarket

It would be common for a trainer to feel tense ahead of a weekend in which their dreams could come true, but Karl Burke’s angst has nothing to do with horses.

Burke has assembled one of the most powerful stables in Britain, his base in North Yorkshire alive with emerging talent. He has high hopes for Night Raider, an intriguing runner in Saturday’s Qipco 2,000 Guineas, plus Fallen Angel and Darnation, the two arrows he aims at Sunday's Qipco 1,000 Guineas.

Things are ticking along smoothly at Spigot Lodge stables but the same cannot be said at Anfield. Burke, a Liverpool devotee, has been flummoxed by the recent drop-off in form that means Jurgen Klopp’s farewell will not be festooned in gold and silver.

‘Something’s gone wrong behind the scenes there, hasn’t it?’ he asks with an exasperation familiar to any match-going fan. ‘They’ve gone from this tight unit, where they loved Klopp and Klopp loved them, to where it all seems to have fallen apart. It’s sad to see, isn’t it? They’ve lost all cohesion.

‘Honestly, Liverpool’s results are more stressful than thinking about the Guineas! I don’t feel any worries about the horses. Pressure is something you put on yourself. You want it to go well for other people, you don’t want to let anyone down.’

There is no chance of that. Burke, with the assistance of his wife, Elaine, has built up an enviable squad and the importance of having major chances going into these Classics should not be underestimated; the emergence of these quality horses could also not be better timed.

He was diagnosed with bowel cancer last June, which required surgery and debilitating chemotherapy. The treatment, thankfully, has been successful and he is back on track now, indebted to the help he received from Elaine and daughters Kelly and Lucy.

This, potentially, could be quite a few days. Kelly is due to give birth on Tuesday, while Lucy is expecting a new arrival for the Burke family in August. Spring always brings the promise of new beginnings and that is not lost on the trainer.

‘I got working again around Christmas time after the chemo stopped,’ he says. ‘That has taken my mind off any further visits that I have to have over the next couple of years. I’m up and about now and looking forward.’

As well he might. Fallen Angel, favourite for the 1,000 Guineas, ticks so many boxes in terms of looking like a Classic winner. She is a worthy favourite, having been a Group One-winning juvenile, and a recent piece of work at Newmarket was eye-catching.

Night Raider, meanwhile, has arrived at the 2,000 Guineas via an unconventional route. He has not raced on grass yet and never saw a course until last December. But the colt has talent — whether it will be enough to beat City Of Troy or Rosallion, the favourites, is hard to say but Burke’s faith is unshakable.

‘We went on holiday and came home through Dubai,’ he said. ‘I stopped off to meet Sheik Obaid for a chat and a cup of coffee. Night Raider had only run once at this point and I mentioned to him, “We might have a horse to take you on in the Guineas…”.’

Sheik Obaid, for clarity, is one of Burke’s main patrons. He owns Rosallion but that colt is in training with Richard Hannon.

Burke adds: ‘A few minutes before, he’d said to me. “I’m not a dreamer when it comes to horses”. So this comment about the Guineas I’d made resonated with him. He pauses and asks, “Where did you win your race?” I told him it was a Southwell maiden. He looks back at me, “You are a dreamer!” he says. I smiled. Maybe so. But I’m happy to keep dreaming.’