Elarqam booked for 2000 Guineas glory

London - Elarqam can foil Aidan O'Brien's bid for a remarkable ninth 2000 Guineas success in 20 years by justifying the faith of connections in the Qipco-sponsored Classic at Newmarket today.

Trainer Mark Johnston and his team have made no secret of the high regard they have for a horse who goes to Headquarters unbeaten in two starts. His lack of experience, particularly against the battle-hardened O'Brien horses, is a natural concern, but Elarqam does have course knowhow, having won the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes over 1400m of the Rowley Mile in September. He had a course gallop at Newmarket recently as part of his preparation.

There is no doubt Elarqam is bred to be a top-drawer performer, being the product of two Guineas winners - the mighty Frankel and Attraction. That may not be a guarantee to success, but the signs so far suggest Elarqam has inherited plenty of ability and can emulate his parents by being a Classic winner himself.

Gustav Klimt appears O'Brien's number one hope, but it is generally folly to ignore any of his runners in races of this nature. Of the others, Expert Eye was a big disappointment in the Dewhurst when sent off the odds-on favourite, but he shaped well when runner-up in the Greenham on his reappearance. He has pleased trainer Sir Michael Stoute since that effort and has definite place prospects.

Recent John Porter Stakes winner Defoe can justify the decision to supplement him for the Dunaden Jockey Club Stakes. Roger Varian's four-year-old impressed at Newbury and is obviously giving his trainer the right signs.

Havana Grey can strike for the three-year-old generation when he goes up against his elders in the Longholes Palace House Stakes. Karl Burke's young sprinter took the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last term and was placed at Group 1 and 2 level as well. With no top-quality established older speedster in the lineup, Havana Grey has sound prospects of becoming the first of his age group to score since in Amour Propre in 2009.

Donncha can land a deserved victory in the Commission Free Racing At Matchbook Handicap at Goodwood. Robert Eddery's seven-year-old has needed a bit of help from the assessor and he has now dropped to his last successful mark nearly of almost three years ago.- Press Association