Classic trip a minimum for Eminent says excited Meade

Eminent would turn into the ultimate course specialist if he can extend his winning run to three on the Rowley Mile in Saturday's Qipco 2,000 Guineas according to trainer Martyn Meade, although he admits his stable star will be "right on his lower limit" of his stamina over a mile.

The Newmarket trainer is bidding to keep the colts' Classic at headquarters for the second year running after Galileo Gold won 12 months ago, but expects his son of Frankel to be even better served by a longer trip later in the season.

The Craven winner is generally around 5-1 fourth favourite for this weekend's contest, in which he will meet a maximum of nine rivals after Aidan O'Brien indicated that Peace Envoy, one of his four entries, would swerve the race.

With Rivet also an absentee, if a maximum of ten runners go to post it will be the smallest field since Doyoun beat eight rivals in 1988.

Speaking at the annual pre-Guineas lunch on Wednesday, Meade said: "It's very exciting and I'm really pleased where Eminent is at the moment and how he has conducted himself mentally.

"He's got two key things going for him in that he's something of a course specialist as he's only ever won at Newmarket, unlike the others except Churchill, who won the Dewhurst. The other is the time as the Craven was the quickest for 50 years."

On the downside, Meade added: "He's had only two runs and we've yet to see the best of him, but I'd say a mile is right on his lower limit."

A relatively cheap purchase by agent Dermot Farrington, Eminent is entered in the Betfred Dante and Investec Derby, and it's a good job that he is, for Meade added: "There's no doubt he'll get further, certainly a mile and quarter and hopefully a mile and a half later on."

In other 2,000 Guineas news, favourite Churchill could be joined by stablemates Lancaster Bomber and Spirit Of Valor, but not Peace Envoy.

Speaking from Ballydoyle, trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "Everything is fine with Churchill and we will probably send the two War Front colts who ran in Dubai with him, but Peace Envoy won't go as he only ran at Naas on Monday."