Calyx latest leading contender to be ruled out of 2,000 Guineas

Calyx, who had been prominent in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas market at no bigger than 8-1, has been ruled out of the Newmarket Classic on Saturday week.

The son of Kingman, who has been off the track since winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last June, is instead likely to reappear at the Berkshire course over six furlongs on Wednesday instead.

The colt pleased connections in a workout on the Rowley Mile on Friday morning, but while the initial verdict from the John Gosden camp was to delay a decision on his comeback contest until the weekend, owners Juddmonte subsequently issued a statement.

Qipco 2,000 Guineas card and betting

Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: "Calyx worked on the Rowley Mile course this morning under Frankie Dettori. Both John Gosden and Frankie felt that to go straight to the 2,000 Guineas after such a long layoff would be asking too much at this stage. Therefore he will not run at Newmarket on Saturday week."

He added: "He is now likely to run in the Pavilion Stakes at Ascot next Wednesday. Thereafter, the top mile races will be considered.”

Calyx worked over seven and a half furlongs alongside regular lead horse First Eleven and finished three lengths clear under Dettori.

Gosden, who had ruled out ante-post 2,000 Guineas favourite Too Darn Hot from the Classic last week, said after the exercise: "I'm happy with his work, he gave a nice, normal blow and picked up well."

Calyx is one of 14 entries for Wednesday's Pavilion Stakes at Ascot, to be run this year as the Merriebelle Stable Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes.

Greenham winner Mohaather is a 2,000 Guineas doubt, the colt having been found to be lame on his off-fore after a workout on Friday.

He was eased to 12-1 (from 8) by bookmakers, with a decision on his participation expected on Monday.

Paul Kealy's verdict on the 2,000 Guineas

Given the number of high-profile defectors, anyone who has a horse with half-decent juvenile form and a 2,000 Guineas entry will be fancying their chances.

Aidan O'Brien now dominates the market, although his Ten Sovereigns, who has the best form, has been an uneasy favourite and has been joined by the yard's Magna Grecia.

Ten Sovereigns is very much the one to beat and there is stamina on the dam's side, but his sire was all speed and he shaped very much like a sprinter when winning his three starts last term.

Magna Grecia is arguably better bred for the job but, other than his stable, it's hard to see why he should be as short as 4-1 based on a head win from Phoenix Of Spain in the Futurity at Doncaster (the runner-up is 25-1).

He'll have more to come, but surely the value bet in the race right now has to be Advertise, who on official figures is a 6lb better horse than Magna Grecia and can be backed at 12-1.

He does have a bit to prove over a mile, but he certainly stayed 7f well enough (Oisin Murphy thought he was strong at the end according to trainer Martyn Meade) when second to Too Darn Hot.

The winner is obviously not going to show up and nor is Calyx, who is the only other horse to have beaten Advertise, who is a Group 1 winner in his own right.

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