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A total of 29 colts stood their ground for May 2's stanjames.com 2000 Guineas after today's first scratching deadline.

The Brian Meehan-trained Delegator, currently heads the betting for the £400,000 Classic - to be staged over Newmarket's famous Rowley Mile - and the Dansili colt is rated an 11/4 chance by the race sponsor following his stunning victory over course and distance in the Group Three Banshahousestables.com Craven Stakes on Thursday. , currently heads the betting for the £400,000 Classic - to be staged over Newmarket's famous Rowley Mile - and the Dansili colt is rated an 11/4 chance by the race sponsor following his stunning victory over course and distance in the Group Three Banshahousestables.com Craven Stakes on Thursday.

Meehan will be aiming for a first Classic success in the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas. But Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien is set to bid for a sixth victory in the renowned mile contest and his six remaining entries include the champion two-year-old Mastercraftsman, whose four successes last year included Group One victories at the Curragh in the Phoenix and National Stakes. , whose four successes last year included Group One victories at the Curragh in the Phoenix and National Stakes.

O'Brien could also rely on Born To Be King, Grand Ducal, Set Sail, Grade One Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Westphalia and Group Three scorer Rip Van Winkle, who ended his juvenile campaign with a seventh in the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes on Champions’ Day at Newmarket. , Grand Ducal, Set Sail, Grade One Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Westphalia and Group Three scorer Rip Van Winkle, who ended his juvenile campaign with a seventh in the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes on Champions’ Day at Newmarket.

Intense Focus took the spoils on that occasion, getting the better of Lord Shanakill and Finjaan in a thrilling finish, and all three colts could reoppose over the Rowley Mile on May 2, along with the sixth home, Ashram, while Jim Bolger, trainer of the winner, may also be represented by Goffs Million runner-up Gan Amhras. Other potential Irish challengers include the John Oxx-trained pair of Arazan and Sea The Stars, who both landed Group Two contests as juveniles. and Finjaan in a thrilling finish, and all three colts could reoppose over the Rowley Mile on May 2, along with the sixth home, Ashram, while Jim Bolger, trainer of the winner, may also be represented by Goffs Million runner-up Gan Amhras. Other potential Irish challengers include the John Oxx-trained pair of Arazan and Sea The Stars, who both landed Group Two contests as juveniles.

Other notable acceptors include Cityscape, who was second in the Group Three Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday, the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained pair of Sayif and Monitor Closely, as well as Group Three Horris Hill Stakes victor Evasive, who may bid to give trainer Sir Michael Stoute a sixth victory in the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas. , who was second in the Group Three Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday, the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained pair of Sayif and Monitor Closely, as well as Group Three Horris Hill Stakes victor Evasive, who may bid to give trainer Sir Michael Stoute a sixth victory in the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas.

The remaining French-trained contender is Naaqoos, who took the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp in October. The Freddie Head-trained colt was second on his seasonal reappearance in the Listed Prix Djebel at Maison-Laffitte on April 10 and may bid to emulate Zafonic, who was defeated in the same race in 1993 but bounced back to record an emphatic success at Newmarket. , who took the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp in October. The Freddie Head-trained colt was second on his seasonal reappearance in the Listed Prix Djebel at Maison-Laffitte on April 10 and may bid to emulate Zafonic, who was defeated in the same race in 1993 but bounced back to record an emphatic success at Newmarket.

stanjames.com 2000 Guineas - sponsor’s latest prices

11-4 Delegator, 9-2 Rip Van Winkle, 5 Mastercraftsman, 9 Evasive, 10 Arazan, 16 Cityscape, 16 Intense Focus, 16 Sea The Stars, 20 Westphalia, 20 Finjaan, 33 On Our Way, 33 Lord Shanakill, 33 Shaweel, 40 Monitor Closely, 50 Ashram, 50 Himalya, 50 Grand Ducal, 50 Sayif, 66 Set Sail, 66 Pure Poetry, 66 Born To Be King, 66 Albaher, 66 Imperial Guest, 66 Zafisio, 100 Laurie Grove, 200 Ocean's Minstrel, 250 Prayer Boat

1/4 odds 123, Non Runner No Bet