The entries for the first two British Classics of the season have been released, with 57 horses entered in the Betfred 2,000 Guineas and another 43 in the Betfred 1,000 Guineas.
Aidan O'Brien is responsible for eight possible runners as he seeks a record-extending eleventh success in the 2,000 Guineas, which is scheduled to take place at Newmarket on Saturday, May 3. They include the ante-post favourite The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who was unbeaten in two starts as a two-year-old, including the G3 Acomb Stakes at York.
The Lion In Winter could be joined by a trio of Group 1-winning stable-mates in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere scorer Camille Pissarro (Ire), Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Henri Matisse (Ire) and Criterium International winner Twain (Ire), as well as the G1 Dewhurst Stakes runner-up Expanded (Ire). They are all from the first Irish-bred crop of Wootton Bassett (GB).
The Dewhurst was won by the colt subsequently named European champion two-year-old in Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who was beaten just once in five starts in 2024, when his other wins included the G1 Middle Park Stakes. Shadow Of Light is trained by Charlie Appleby, who could field up to six runners in the Godolphin blue. His other entries include the Dewhurst third Ancient Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), all-weather sensation Opera Ballo (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) and Ruling Court (Justify), who was a six-length winner on his return to action at Meydan on Saturday.
Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) (Kameko) is another key member of the home team as the winner of the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes over this course and distance, while the likes of Cosmic Year (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Treble Tee (Ire) (Persian King {Ire}) showed plenty of potential when winning their sole two-year-old starts at Sandown and Newmarket, respectively.
In Ireland, G1 Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and G1 National Stakes scorer Scorthy Champ (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) are perhaps the pick of those trained outside of Ballydoyle, which leaves Mi Bago (Vekoma) as the sole entry not based in Britain or Ireland. Trained in the US by Mark Casse, he was last seen winning the Listed Colonel Liam Stakes at Gulfstream on Saturday.
Lake Victoria (Ire), one of the leading contenders for the 1,000 Guineas on Sunday, May 4, will be a familiar name in the US following her victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in November. That was her third consecutive win at the top level, having also won the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes.
The daughter of Frankel (GB) is one of eight entries for O'Brien in the 1,000 Guineas, with the others including the G2 Rockfel Stakes heroine Bubbling (Ire) (No Nay Never), G3 Albany Stakes winner Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Exactly (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).
Appleby and Godolphin could again pose the stiffest opposition to the Ballydoyle team, chiefly with Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who was unbeaten in four starts as a juvenile, culminating with a wide-margin victory in the G1 Fillies' Mile. Emphatic debut winner Verse Of Love (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), who created an excellent impression on the Fillies' Mile undercard, could also feature for the same connections.
Elsewhere, Prix Marcel Boussac winner Vertical Blue (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is one of two entries from France, along with the G3 Prix de Cabourg scorer and Cheveley Park second Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}), while US-based trainer Phil D'Amato could be represented by Grade III-placed filly Tigerish (Tiz The Law).
Closer to home, Ger Lyons holds a strong hand with the high-class Juddmonte pair Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and Red Letter (GB) (Frankel {GB}), as well as the Listed winner Chantez (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), while Donnacha O'Brien's Falling Snow (Ire) (Justify) looked potentially smart when making a successful debut at the Curragh in August. She is out of Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the 2017 edition of the 1,000 Guineas.
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