Horse racing: Camelot ready for Classic

THE recent rain has not dampened the enthusiasm of Aidan O’Brien for winning the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, the first Classic of the season, at Newmarket on Saturday.

The Irish trainer’s Camelot, which runs in the colours of Derrick Smith, should handle any going. Second favourite Most Improved was ruled out after going lame before the Craven Stakes, which has only hardened Camelot’s odds and the son of Montjeu, who won the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October will likely start odds-on.

Top Offer is the main home hope and, although Roger Charlton’s son of Dansili is owned by Khaled Abdulla, he is not expected to be in the class of the Sheikh’s Frankel, blistering winner of last year’s Guineas. French raider Abtaal looks a threat, as does John Oxx’s Born To Sea, while another Irish each-way shot at long odds is Jim Bolger’s Light Heavy, who is at least guaranteed to get the distance.