Hannon believes fitter Barney can improve again in the Guineas

Richard Hannon yesterday used his stable's recent Classic record to predict Barney Roy could come on again from his Greenham victory and thrive on the step back up to a mile in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas.

Hannon won the 2014 2,000 Guineas with 40-1 Night Of Thunder in his debut season, following father Richard snr's retirement, when the colt turned the tables on hot favourite Kingman, who had beaten him in the Greenham Stakes, at Newmarket.

And he expects Barney Roy, the Godolphin-owned top-priced 4-1 joint second favourite behind Churchill in the Classic betting, to improve, too, after running on strongly to beat Dream Castle by two lengths at Newbury.

The colt, who will be ridden by James Doyle on Saturday, completed his final piece of work under Sean Levey yesterday morning and the trainer said he has been delighted with his colt's build-up.

A very exciting horse'

"I didn't in my wildest dreams think Night Of Thunder's win in the Guineas was coming, but this one, if it does happen, would be a little more likely," he said.

"He's a very exciting horse and always has been. He showed it in the Greenham and hopefully he'll show it again on Saturday.

"The Guineas is obviously a very different race to the Greenham. It's much better and it'll be much harder to win, but our horse will know a lot more and he'll be that little bit fitter.

"Ours always come on for their trial, the evidence is there. Sky Lantern [winner of the 1,000 Guineas in Hannon snr's final season] got beaten in her trial and Night Of Thunder got beaten in his. Our horses need it more than most."

He continued: "Barney Roy did finish off visually very powerfully. Whether that was because the leader had pulled a bit too hard and didn't quite get home or he found a massive turn of foot, I'm not really sure there's a difference.

"I was a bit worried before the Greenham about his maiden being over a mile and coming back to seven for his trial but I am much happier going from seven to a mile. He'll thrive on that."

Hannon will be two-handed with Larchmont Lad, who finished fifth behind Eminent in the Craven Stakes, set to line up under William Buick.

"Larchmont Lad is not there just making up the placings," Hannon said. "They went very quick in the Craven and he was on the wrong side of the track.

'He'll improve massively'

"That wasn't Sean Levey's fault, it was just the way the race panned out. I think they went quite a long way from home and got very tired.

"We'll ride him a little bit differently this time. He's a very good horse and he'll improve massively. He's a big, heavy horse and there's an awful lot to come from him."

Bookmakers reported money for Churchill yesterday, with Coral and William Hill cutting the Ballydoyle colt to 11-8 from 6-4.

Godolphin completed their jockey bookings when Silvestre de Sousa was put on Dream Castle and Joe Fanning on Top Score, both trained by Saeed Bin Suroor.

Talaayeb wins here maiden at Newmarket last September under Paul MulrennanCredit: ST Parade7/7/16

Owen Burrows, who saddled his first Classic runner, Massaat, to finish second in last year's 2,000 Guineas, will run Talaayeb, winner of a Newmarket maiden last year, first time out in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas.

“I'm very happy with Talaayeb, although I realise it's a big ask to go straight from a maiden race to a Classic like the 1,000 Guineas," he said.

"She was an exciting prospect even before she got to the racecourse, although I must admit I was slightly surprised when she won her maiden at quite how well she did it.

"She doesn't look slow and has gears, but she's bred to get a bit further than a mile."

The Newmarket ground remained good to firm on Tuesday with dry weather forecast for the rest of the week.

Qipco 2,000 Guineas card, form and betting

Qipco 1,000 Guineas card, form and betting