Seventeen colts have stood their ground for Britain's first Classic of the year on Saturday, the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. They include most of the major ante-post fancies such as Godolphin's recent G3 Bet365 Craven S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). Aidan O'Brien still has four in the mix and they are current favourite and 'Rising Star' Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 Racing Post Trophy winner and fellow 'Rising Star' Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), dual Group 1 winning juvenile US Navy Flag (War Front) and Murillo (Scat Daddy).
Both John Gosden and Mark Johnston could be doubly represented with Gosden leaving in Qatar Racing's Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy) and the unbeaten Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}), while Johnston relies on the exciting 'Rising Star' Elarqam (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and the streetwise Cardsharp (GB) (Lohnro {Aus}). G2 Coventry S. winner Rajasinghe (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) looks like being a first Classic runner for trainer Richard Spencer while Roger Teal will saddle the well travelled Tip Two Win (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Sheikh Fahad Al Thani could have a second runner in the David Simcock-trained Raid (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) while other locally trained challengers include Sir Michael Stoute's Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}), Headway (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) for the William Haggas stable, Hey Gaman (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) for James Tate, while George Scott will have high hopes for his G3 Greenham S. winner James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). Lambourn based Charles Hills has also left his G3 Horris Hill S. winner Nebo (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the £400,000 event.
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