Northern lights: Elarqam and Laurens camps out to strike Guineas gold

The north has had winners of the FA Premier League, the cricket county championship and even the Masters in recent years – surely it's time for another Classic victory.

That's certainly the view you get on a visit to Middleham, a town steeped in racing and home to a couple of live candidates for the Guineas next weekend.

Attraction was the last horse trained north of the Trent to land a British Classic from this part of the world so it would be fitting if her son Elarqam – the "absolute spitting image" of his dam, according to Mark Johnston – could end the drought in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas.

Hamdan Al Maktoum's unbeaten colt is quoted at no bigger 6-1 and his trainer says: "He's a very talented horse, he's still an unknown quantity but we're going there more than hopeful.

"It's not quite like Attraction, when we went with her I believed that if she stayed she would win. At that stage, I firmly believed she was the best filly in Europe and it was all down to the trip, none of the others was as good as her. Elarqam hasn't proved that but I have a lot of faith in his ability."

Qipco 2,000 Guineas card and betting

Attraction had run five times but Elarqam has been seen out only twice, if you don't count last week's racecourse gallop at Newmarket, and Johnston warns: "He needs experience, that's still a big concern. He hasn't had a hard race."

And his date with Classic destiny may actually be at Epsom rather than Newmarket as Johnston says: "Sheikh Hamdan and Jim Crowley both believed firmly that the horse would want a mile and a quarter-plus this year.

"We are going to the Guineas saying this may not be the whole story. The Guineas is the best Derby trial and if he doesn't finish in the first three you could well see him going to the Dante and on to the Derby route."

Middle distances have also come under consideration across town for Laurens but Karl Burke is confident the Qipco 1,000 Guineas is the race for the Fillies' Mile winner who is a best-priced 12-1 for Newmarket.

"If her training had shown she wasn’t really a miler we might have gone for the Musidora and then the Oaks," he said. "But she’s trained really well and she’s not slow. Her sire is a massive influence for speed.

Qipco 1,000 Guineas card and betting

"I think she’s gone under the radar a little bit. We analysed the times of her Group 1 and although everyone said September was unlucky, she wasn’t quickening, we were slowing down. That was through physical weakness and now she’s a big, strong filly, she can keep that great gallop up.

"She’s a hell of a lot stronger this year and if she can keep that momentous gallop it will be a good horse that gets by her."

Spigot Lodge went close to Classic victory when Libertarian finished second in the Derby five years ago and Burke says: “I always say that was the best day’s racing I ever had, it was fantastic to be part of that. If we can go one better a week on Sunday it’s going to be an amazing day."

Laurens (Lucy Burke): Qipco 1,000 Guineas hope may have gone under the radarCredit: Dan Abraham

Record of northern-trained horses in British Classics since Attraction won the 1,000 Guineas

2017 Queen Kindly Richard Fahey 1,000 Gns 33-1 9th

Kilmah Mark Johnston 1,000 Gns 100-1 11th

Ce La Vi Keith Dalgleish 1,000 Gns 150-1 13th

Permian Mark Johnston Derby 8-1 10th

2016 Ribchester Richard Fahey 2,000 Gns 33-1 3rd

Kentuckyconnection Bryan Smart 2,000 Gns 100-1 5th

Buratino Mark Johnston 2,000 Gns 14-1 9th

Fireglow Mark Johnston 1,000 Gns 40-1 4th

Lumiere Mark Johnston 1,000 Gns 13-2 16th

Biodynamic Karl Burke Derby 100-1 13th

2015 See Me Now David O'Meara 2,000 Gns 100-1 10th

Glenalmond Karl Burke 2,000 Gns 66-1 17th

2014 The Grey Gatsby Kevin Ryan 2,000 Gns 66-1 10th

Sandiva Richard Fahey 1,000 Gns 16-1 9th

Lily Rules Tony Coyle Oaks 33-1 9th

2013 Glory Awaits Kevin Ryan 2,000 Gns 150-1 2nd

Garswood Richard Fahey 2,000 Gns 12-1 7th

Libertaria Elaine Burke Derby 14-1 2nd

2012 Ptolemaic Bryan Smart 2,000 Gns 250-1 7th

Red Duke John Quinn 2,000 Gns 66-1 11th

Lily's Angel Richard Fahey 1,000 Gns 50-1 7th

Mickdaam Richard Fahey Derby 25-1 5th

2011 Barefoot Lady Richard Fahey 1,000 Gns 16-1 5th

Brown Panther Tom Dascombe St Leger 15-2 2nd

2010 Awzaan Mark Johnston 2,000 Gns 8-1 15th

Greyfriarschorista Mark Johnston 2,000 Gns 200-1 18th

Distinctive Bryan Smart 1,000 Gns 66-1 5th

Bikini Babe Mark Johnston Oaks 33-1 7th

Marie De Medici Mark Johnston Oaks 40-1 11th

Corsica Mark Johnston St Leger 40-1 3rd

Dandino James Given St Leger 7-1 8th

2009 Lord Shanakill Karl Burke 2,000 Gns 14-1 12th

2008 Max One Two Three Tom Dascombe 1,000 Gns 33-1 11th

Maidstone Mixture Paul Murphy Derby 250-1 16th

Maidstone Mixture Paul Murphy St Leger 200-1 14th

2007 Fishforcompliments Richard Fahey 2,000 Gns 200-1 18th

Danum Dancer Neville Bycroft 2,000 Gns 250-1 22nd

Evens And Odds Kevin Ryan 2,000 Gns 33-1 23rd

Fantasy Parkes Kevin Ryan 1,000 Gns 150-1 17th

2006 Misu Bond Bryan Smart 2,000 Gns 66-1 5th

Amadeus Wolf Kevin Ryan 2,000 Gns 9-1 7th

2005 Golden Legacy Richard Fahey 1,000 Gns 50-1 11th

Market Trend Mark Johnston 1,000 Gns 11-1 20th

Elliots World Mark Johnston 2,000 Gns 50-1 18th

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