17 declared for Guineas

Favourite will not run if ground is too fast

Last updated: 30th April 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Delegator 5

Delegator: Craven winner
BET ON RACING
Jamie Spencer is 80/1 with Sky Bet to silence his critics by completing the 1,000/2,000 Guineas double at Newmarket this weekend.
Spencer rides hot Guineas favourite Delegator (7/2) in the first colts' classic and is likely to take the mount on the Clive Brittain-trained Nashmiah (16/1) in the 1,000 Guineas.
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Craven Stakes winner Delegator heads a field of 17 contenders declared for Saturday's stanjames.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The Brian Meehan-trained colt is joint 7/2 favourite alongside Rip Van Winkle with Sky Bet, although other layers make him just about the favourite on Thursday afternoon.

Delegator is well fancied after his win over Sans Frontieres over the Rowley Mile and he has been handed stall 15 for the season's first Classic.

However, Meehan issued a warning earlier in the week that Delegator would not run if the ground was too fast.

The going at Newmarket was described as good to firm on Thursday morning after eight millimetres of water had been applied to the track on Wednesday.

Aidan O'Brien is set to be represented by both Mastercraftsman and Rip Van Winkle as the Irish trainer seeks a sixth success in the colts' Classic.

Other leading fancies to stand their ground include Sir Michael Stoute's Evasive, Marcus Tregoning's Finjaan, Karl Burke's Lord Shanakill, Barry Hills' Ouqba and the John Oxx-trained Sea The Stars.

There were seven withdrawals as the 48-hour final declaration stage. They were: Arazan, Grand Ducal, Himalya, Intense Focus, Set Sail, Shaweel and Westphalia.

It has been confirmed that Irish champion jockey Pat Smullen will ride Mastercraftsman, with Ballydoyle stable jockey Johnny Murtagh electing to partner Rip Van Winkle.

Fantastic

Smullen's agent Kevin O'Ryan said: "It's an absolutely fantastic ride for Pat to pick up and of course he is really looking forward to it - any time you have a ride in a Classic you look forward to it.

"It's brilliant for Pat as he also rides Serious Attitude for a very good trainer in Rae Guest in the 1000 Guineas on Sunday.

"She's a very, very good filly and we're very lucky to get that ride."

O'Brien reports Rip Van Winkle to be recovering well from the stone bruise he suffered earlier in the week.

"Rip Van Winkle has missed some work due to his foot bruise, but the problem has improved day by day. We have two more days to go before the race and, hopefully, he will continue to progress," the Ballydoyle handler told www.racingpost.com.(reopens)