Camelot stands out in 2000 Guineas

Aidan O’Brien’s Camelot is the star name among 63 entries for the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5.

Already a Group One winner thanks to his stunning victory in the Racing Post Trophy, the unbeaten colt currently heads the market for both the Guineas and the Investec Derby, and is one of 11 entries for the Ballydoyle handler as he chases a sixth win in the race.

Born To Sea, trained by John Oxx, and Jim Bolger’s Dewhurst winner Parish Hall add to the Irish challenge, while Harbour Watch is among eight possibles for Richard Hannon.

French trainer Mikel Delzangles, successful with Makfi two years ago, has two contenders in Dragon Pulse, formerly with Jessica Harrington in Ireland, and Hermival.

The handler said: “The 2000 Guineas is a race we are considering for both horses. They will both run once before that in the trials – one will run in the Prix Djebel (Maisons-Laffitte, April 5) and the other in the Prix de Fontainebleau (Longchamp, April 15). We will see what happens there and then decide after that.

“Dragon Pulse has been with me for three weeks. I was impressed with his Irish form, and he looks like he is a very decent horse. He has not done any work for me yet, but physically he has all the looks and size to make a champion.

“Hermival won quite impressively at Saint-Cloud and I like him. He is not a show horse, but he is a very hard worker and if he improves he could be a very good horse. Although he won on heavy ground, I think he will be fine on better ground.”

Another French possible is Nicolas Clement’s French Fifteen, who has been bought by Sheikh Al Thani after winning the Criterium International Saint Cloud.

Clement said: “The plan now is to run him in the Prix Djebel (before Newmarket) and he is a colt who needs a true early pace to show his best. He has a good turn of foot and could be ridden by Olivier Peslier if he isn’t claimed by the Wertheimer brothers as he now has a second retainer with Sheikh Al Thani.”

Matusalen is the Spanish-trained entry for Mauricio Delcher Sanchez, who has already enjoyed significant success in Britain having saddled Equiano to success in the 2008 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.