By Daithi Harvey
A field of 12 colts have been left in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday headed by the long term ante-post favourite Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The dual Group 1 winning juvenile is one of four potential Ballydoyle challengers along with Peace Envoy (Fr) (Power {GB}), Lancaster Bomber (War Front) and Spirit Of Valour (War Front). Caravaggio (Scat Daddy), as expected has been taken out of the race.
Speaking about Churchill on At The Races on Monday, O'Brien said, “We're very happy with him, he's done everything well. Obviously we haven't given him a run but he's been away and Donnacha rides him everyday and he's very happy with him.”
Al Shaqab Racing's Al Wukair (Ire) (Dream Ahead) looks set to represent Andre Fabre who is confident of a bold show from the recent impressive winner of the G3 Prix Djebel.
“Al Wukair did his final piece of work before the QIPCO 2000 Guineas this morning and I was happy with everything,” Fabre said. “I am quite confident that he will be in the first three on Saturday, but I am a bit concerned that he was not a Group 1 winner as a 2-year-old, something that most Guineas winners have already achieved, including both of mine, Zafonic and Pennekamp.”
A strong home defense is headed by impressive recent trial winners Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) who were successful in their seasonal debuts in the G3 Craven S. and G3 Greenham S., respectively. Dream Castle (GB) (Frankel {GB}) pulled hard early when beaten two lengths by Richard Hannon's Barney Roy at Newbury and could also represent Godolphin. Last year's G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Rivet (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) also remains among the dozen, however his participation is doubtful with trainer William Haggas keener to target the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains a week later. The potential line-up, which will be the smallest field since 1995, is completed by James Tate's Law And Order (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Top Score (Hard Spun) and Larchmont Lad (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), another for Richard Hannon.
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