Final Declarations in for the Qipco 2000 Guineas Part Two

There isn't too much to write home about in reference to Happy Today (Gone West), though he does seem a pleasant colt with a promising future. Quite cold on the board at 100/1, he managed a place finish on his seasonal debut. He has experience at Newmarket and lost his debut maiden to the respected Biondetti (Bernardini) before coming back to score next time out at Bath. Tough to get excited about him but I reckon connections have their eyes on other races long-term.

Loving Spirit (Azamour) is another lightly-raced type with only two races under his belt. A well-bred Irish contender, he finished second to Mantoba (Noverre) when sent off as a beaten joint-favourite. He struggled over the last 100y or so in that 1m contest after putting in a good shift up until that point. Look for him to improve a bit here after a lengthy lay-off but the 66/1 tell you what you need to know.

Native Khan (Azamour) is one of the better colts in the line-up here and the only genuine blemish on his record is a loss to Casamento at Group 1 level last year in the Racing Post Trophy. He got the season off to a big bang by capturing the Craven Stakes on debut when sent off as the 8/11 favourite. He will be out wide a bit, close to Frankel's stablemate Rerouted (Stormy Atlantic), in the #11 stall. Should Frankel not run his race or make some type of a mistake, I think this is one of the better contenders but I do think Casamento gets the edge on him head-to-head in the race for 2^nd place. He hung out a bit towards the finish in the Craven and was still able to win so that makes you ask yourself whether he's still a bit green or whether he'll improve even more on the run-in with some focused piloting from Olivier Peslier. The jockey switch is an interesting variable.

Undefeated Pathfork (Distorted Humor) puts his record on the line after getting home late to nip Casamento in the Group 1 Vincent O'Brien Stakes. A multiple group winner who deserves respect, he's being bet down as low as 11/2. While his victories are great ones and you can expect a good career from him if he stays healthy, you wonder whether being raced exclusively at the Curragh might work against him a bit. You get the feeling that he will prefer things to be on the softer side and, with good to firm expected, I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see his price drift a bit. Additionally, he has never raced beyond 7f and that's not enough for me to back somebody at 11/2 against a contender like Frankel.

Rerouted will be sent out with clear instructions to lay down a blistering early pace for Frankel to run onto. Barry Hills-trained and Michael Hills-piloted, this chestnut trades at 100/1 and is being sent out as part of a two-horse Juddmonte package. Obviously they want Frankel to win this one but he's put in some great shifts in previous races. If things go exactly according to plan, he might be able to hit the board but you reckon he won't be the priority on the day. He's out there to take one for the team and runs from the #13 stall.

Roderic O'Connor (Galileo) is a half-brother to Frankel and looks set to be a prominent runner on European soil over the next few years. He will move on to the Derby even with a credible performance here but you reckon connections might just think he gets his revenge on Frankel here. He lacks the undefeated record that the favourite is boasting but he's a gritty horse that took a classy field to school at Saipan in a Group 1 on Halloween last year. He has won over good to firm and should enjoy the surface. Look for him to try to hold an early lead, but I reckon Rerouted has been sent out by Juddmonte to attempt to reroute Roderic O'Connor with some blistering early fractions. Note the maiden break over Master of Hounds (Kingmambo).

Saamidd (Street Cry) is the other Godolphin entry and he's only been out three times in his career. He looks to be taking a bit of each-way support at 33/1 but he really does have to improve if he's going to get the job done here. His pedigree screams for more than 1m so further glory may await him in July or August. He is an interesting entry from Saeed Bin Suroor who tends to know what he's doing. He races out of the #9 stall.

The longest shot on the board is Slim Shadey (Luke Morris) who was obviously named by some sort of internet contest that was held in 2002. He's certainly run against some quality and connections have not hesitated to ship him to high-profile destinations and he has acquitted himself well in the past. At 200/1 to win, you reckon he's out of it but you're still looking at a tidy price if he hits the board, which he could very well do.