Churchill ready to head into international battle in Guineas

For much of the winter the Qipco 2,000 Guineas looked like being a coronation for the Dewhurst Stakes winner Churchill, but a series of thrilling trial winners in previous weeks have sparked the race into life and set the scene for a fascinating international clash at the home of Flat racing.

Churchill still has a tight grip on favouritism for the year's first Classic and a dual Group 1-winning son of supersire Galileo, it is not hard to see why. The fact he is being prepared for battle by master trainer Aidan O'Brien, who already has a joint-record seven wins in the race, will only boost the confidence of his supporters.

Things are rarely so straightforward though, as O'Brien found out just 12 months ago when his long-time favourite Air Force Blue failed to take off. The trainer has yet to convert a Dewhurst Stakes winner into a Guineas hero in three previous attempts, but another son of Galileo, Gleneagles, did the business for him in fine style in 2015.

Stablemate Lancaster Bomber finished second in the Dewhurst and bolsters O'Brien's latest assault on the Rowley Mile, along with Spirit Of Valor, but Churchill's main threats look to come from further afield.

It has been 16 years since Ballydoyle's colours waged wondrous war with Godolphin's when Galileo and Fantastic Light were at the peak of their powers, but perhaps the horse leading the home defence could spark a rivalry to evoke memories of the summer of 2001.

Barney Roy has been highly touted by trainer Richard Hannon in recent months and lived up to the hype with an excellent performance to win the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, a race that has long been a strong Guineas pointer.

He is far from Britain's only hope and trainer Martyn Meade will be hoping the crown stays in Newmarket, as it did last year courtesy of Galileo Gold, as Eminent bids to follow up his Craven Stakes win.

The son of Frankel kept the dream alive with a strong staying performance in last month's trial and if he could emulate his sire and hand him a first Classic-winning son, expect the story to be told far further and wider than solely the racing media. Dream Castle, second in the Greenham, also carries the hopes of the Juddmonte stallion.

Not to be undone by the British and Irish, the French have a leading contender of their own in the shape of Prix Djebel winner Al Wukair, who carries the colours of Al Shaqab Racing, winners last year with Galileo Gold.

Andre Fabre has an outstanding record when travelling with his horses to Suffolk and has been positive over his chances of going close again this time.

It may be low on numbers but this is a Guineas high on quality and is set to provide the perfect springboard into a fantastic summer of racing.

Don't ignore the undercard

With a Classic as inriguing as this, it would be easy to overlook the rest of the card, but there is plenty to savour at Newmarket, in particular a strong renewal of the Group 3 Longholes Palace House Stakes.

This is a race that often throws up a sprinter to follow for the rest of the season, as it did with Profitable, who came of age when winning last term. He will doubtless go close again but his Clive Cox-trained stablemate Priceless was very impressive at Bath and could be anything.

Profitable: top sprinter will race in Godolphin blue this seasonCredit: Matthew Webb

Marsha is another young Group 1 winner, while the likes of Washington DC, Dancing Star and Goldream give the race real strength in depth.

O'Brien, meanwhile, could warm up for the 2,000 Guineas with a win in the Group 2 Dunaden Jockey Club Stakes 40 minutes beforehand, with Seventh Heaven out to serve it up to the boys, while later on the card there could be more Classic pointers on offer in the Listed Havana Gold Newmarket Stakes.

In a race won by subsequent Eclipse winner Hawkbill last year, Permian could hand the Epsom Derby Trial form of Cracksman a boost as he bids to go one better than at Epsom last week.

An international feast

Britain's is far from the only high-class racing offering on a day of almost non-stop top-level contests around the globe.

The Group 1 action starts in the early hours, with the Australasian Oaks and Robert Sangster Stakes - which features on Black Caviar's roll of honour - available for early-risers.

Thunder Snow: had been pleasing his Godolphin connections at Churchill Downs before mystifying display in Kentucky DerbyCredit: Getty Images/Andy Lyons

For night owls, it is all about Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby takes centre stage. Thunder Snow, who also contested last year's Dewhurst Stakes, will be a familiar name to follow in what is the third of three Grade 1 races on a spectacular card.

Where the summer will take us is anybody's guess, but on Saturday we all get to enjoy the first steps of another unforgettable journey together - and hopefully find a winner or two along the way.