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French colt staying at home

Ten Sovereigns and Magna Grecia head Aidan O’Brien’s six remaining possibles among a cast list of 31 in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 4.

The unbeaten Ten Sovereigns heads the betting following the defection of Too Darn Hot, while Andre Fabre has also made an early decision on Persian King’s participation by taking him out of the first colts’ Classic.

Circus Maximus, Mohawk, The Irish Rover and Van Beethoven complete the Ballydoyle squad.

In Too Darn Hot’s absence John Gosden can choose from the long-absent but well-backed Calyx and Kick On, but there are now no French-trained possibles.

Marcus Tregoning’s Greenham winner Moohather and Kevin Prendergast’s Madhmoon give Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum a strong hand and Godolphin’s hopes now rest on the Seed bin Suroor-trained Royal Marine and Mark Johnston’s Dark Vision.

Advertise, Skardu, Set Piece and Phoenix Of Spain are others in the mix.

Richard Hannon has three possibles in Urban Icon, King Of Change and Walkinthesand, and is unperturbed they are big prices.

“Coming into the 2000 Guineas rather under the radar doesn’t bother me at all,” said Hannon.

“Historically, our three-year-olds always need their first runs, that was the case with both Night Of Thunder and Billesdon Brook and also with Sky Lantern.

“It will be no different this time around, we will just have to see how much progress they all make. The 2000 Guineas is always a top-class race, no matter what turns up.

“All three will do their final pieces of work at the weekend and we will make a decision afterwards about how many to run.”