Turf Talk: O'Brien saddles three mounts in hunt for ninth 2000 Guineas win

The Ballydoyle handler has, however, decided not to send Dewhurst and Middle Park winner US Navy Flag.

He still holds an extremely strong hand as Gustav Klimt, a Group Two scorer last year, has already shown his well-being when winning a trial at Leopardstown. Saxon Warrior landed the Racing Post Trophy last season.

Even O’Brien’s perceived outsider of the three, Murillo, was only beaten half a length in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

That race was won by Rajasinghe, who will be a first Classic runner for trainer Richard Spencer.

Mark Johnston’s regally-bred Elarqam, by Frankel out of Attraction, will aim to maintain his unbeaten record, while Tip To Win would be a fairytale winner for Roger Teal. James Garfield, winner of the Greenham Stakes, renews rivalry with the runner-up from that race, Expert Eye, but the third horse home that day, Hey Gaman, will wait for the French Guineas.

Headway will need to prove his stamina over a mile for William Haggas, while Masar, so impressive in the Craven Stakes, will try to prove he is as good as he looked that day.

The Johnston-trained Cardsharp, Nebo, Raid and Roaring Lion complete the field for the Classic.

l Yucatan will run in the Coolmore Camelot Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes at Naas on Monday.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old showed top-class form as a two-year-old but his Classic campaign was interrupted by injury.

He returned to action behind stablemate Capri, whom he pushed close as a juvenile, in the Alleged Stakes at Naas last month.

“He’ll come on a good deal for that,” said Alan Cooper, racing manager for the Niarchos family.

SOBOT’S SATURDAY SELECTIONS

DONCASTER: 5.15 George Bowen, 5.50 Broken Spear, 6.20 Night Castle, 6.50 Bertiewhittle, 7.20 Roussel, 7.50 Stanley, 8.20 Rayna’s World.

GOODWOOD: 1.35 Le Torrent, 2.05 Isabel De Urbina, 2.40 Donncha (next best), 3.15 Bahamian Sunrise, 3.50 Nyaleti, 4.25 Qaroun, 5.00 Honey Man, 5.35 Liva.

HEXHAM: 5.35 Newstart, 6.05 Wishfull Dreaming, 6.35 Or De Vassy, 7.05 Total Assets, 7.35 Greensalt, 8.05 Swashbuckle, 8.35 Ever So Much.

NEWMARKET: 1.50 Another Eclipse, 2.20 Havana Grey, 2.55 Defoe, 3.35 ELARQAM (NAP), 4.10 Chagatai, 4.45 Petrus, 5.20 Symbolization.

UTTOXETER: 2.10 Young Phoenix, 2.45 Flight To Milan, 3.20 Forth Bridge, 3.55 Beeves, 4.30 Drinks Interval, 5.05 The Boss’s Dream, 5.40 Irish Octave.

WETHERBY: 1.25 Paddy’s Rock, 1.55 Zatorius, 2.30 Rare Groove, 3.05 Humbert, 3.45 Castle Hill Cassie, 4.20 Fujaira Prince, 4.55 Saroog, 5.30 Archie Stevens.