Aidan O’Brien’s red-hot favourite St Nicholas Abbey heads a field of 19 runners declared for Saturday’s StanJames.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. You can get our betting preview by clicking HERE.

The Montjeu colt was unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile, culminating in a clear-cut success over Elusive Pimpernel in the Racing Post Trophy last autumn. He is one of three contenders from O’Brien’s Ballydoyle base, with Fencing Master and Viscount Nelson also taking their chance.

John Dunlop’s Elusive Pimpernel reopposes following his Craven Stakes success, while Richard Hannon sends Canford Cliffs and Dick Turpin. Godolphin field two runners, with Al Zir hailing from Saeed bin Suroor’s yard. Buzzword is a first Classic runner for second trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni. Mark Johnston is also double-handed as Middle Park Stakes winner Awzaan and multiple all-weather scorer Greyfriarschorista bid to supplement Mister Baileys’ victory for the handler back in 1994.

Xtension, third in the Dewhurst last year, represents Clive Cox, while Pat Eddery will be hoping Hearts Of Fire can bag him his first Classic as a trainer. The line-up is completed by John Best’s pair of Inler and Elspeth’s Boy, Audacity Of Hope, Fair Trade, Lord Zenith, Red Jazz and sole French raider Makfi.

Johnny Murtagh will be aboard St Nicholas Abbey, with Colm O’Donoghue riding Fencing Master. Those arrangements mean that six-times champion Kieren Fallon can renew his association with O’Brien aboard alleged third string Viscount Nelson. Fallon was stable jockey at Ballydoyle for a number of years but he has not partnered on an O’Brien-trained runner since Dylan Thomas won the 2007 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

“It’s exciting to be back riding for Coolmore and Aidan O’Brien,” he told the Daily Mail. It’s a jockey’s dream. They have the best horses in the world and are great people to ride for. I never thought about whether I’d ride for them again, all I think about is riding as many winners as I can. We all know what Aidan can do and, on the big day, he is the trainer everyone wants to ride for. Viscount Nelson is not just making up the numbers. He is by Giant’s Causeway and out of (2001 Oaks winner) Imagine. He has a fantastic pedigree and was just beaten in the Group Two Champagne Stakes.”

St Nicholas Abbey is drawn in stall 12 of the 19 runners, with Dick Turpin and Greyfriarschorista on either side. Elusive Pimpernel will break from stall one, the same draw as last year’s winner Sea The Stars, with Awzaan on his outside. Canford Cliffs will be in gate four for Richard Hughes, with Buzzword in 19 – although the stalls are placed in the centre of the track for the Guineas. Awzaan was unbeaten in four starts over six furlongs last term, including his defeat of top-class Norfolk Stakes winner Radiohead at Newmarket on his final outing.

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