2,000 Guineas: confirmed runners and riders for the first Classic at Newmarket
Charlie Appleby "can't fault" Pinatubo after discovering last season's two-year-old sensation will face 14 rivals in Saturday's Qipco 2,000 Guineas.
William Buick will start from stall seven on the unbeaten son of Shamardal, who is one of three in the race for Godolphin alongside Al Suhail (James Doyle) and Military March (Hector Crouch).
Aidan O'Brien has four in the race and, with all of his jockeys remaining in Ireland with potential quarantine restrictions, has called on the services of Tom Marquand for the first time. He will ride Royal Dornoch, who won the Group 2 Royal Lodge over course and distance last season.
Adam Kirby rides for O'Brien for the second time in his career with New World Tapestry, while Arizona, the shortest of O'Brien's quartet in the betting, is the mount of Ryan Moore. Wichita also runs with Frankie Dettori booked.
Key contender Kameko represents Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding, while Kenzai Warrior, Mums Tipple and Starcat were also declared.
All of them might be relying on Pinatubo falling short of the dazzling standards he set last year and Appleby wasn't giving them much cause for optimism on Wednesday as he gave the thumbs up to the favourite's preparation.
"He's done everything right," said Appleby. "I'm very happy with him. He's eating, drinking and looking well. I wouldn't change my script about him from 12 months ago – he just goes out and gets the job done. I can't fault him."
Members' Club: 'Back off lads, I'm in town' - superstar Pinatubo ready to wow again in Guineas
Qipco 2,000 Guineas runners and riders
1 Al Suhail (James Doyle), drawn 5
2 Arizona (Ryan Moore), drawn 13
3 Cepheus (Jim Crowley), drawn 10
4 Juan Elcano (Andrea Atzeni), drawn 14
5 Kameko (Oisin Murphy), drawn 15
6 Kenzai Warrior (Jason Watson), drawn 6
7 Kinross (Harry Bentley), drawn 12
8 Military March (Hector Crouch), drawn 3
9 Mums Tipple (Sean Levey), drawn 1
10 New World Tapestry (Adam Kirby), drawn 8
11 Persuasion (Kieran Shoemark), drawn 11
12 Pinatubo (William Buick), drawn 7
13 Royal Dornoch (Tom Marquand), drawn 2
14 Starcat (PJ McDonald), drawn 4
15 Wichita (Frankie Dettori), drawn 9
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