Churchill does not need to improve mark to capture Classic

Churchill confirmed himself the leading three-year-old at this early stage of the season with a convincing success, although without needing to improve on his champion juvenile form to post a winning Racing Post Rating of 121+.

That places his winning effort at the lower end of 2,000 Guineas expectations, but it's hard to see the overall form any more positively at this stage, with the smallest field since 1988 producing a compressed finish with little more than five lengths covering the first eight home.

Churchill (Ryan Moore, right) leads them home in the GuineasCredit: Edward Whitaker

Further, front-running stablemate Lancaster Bomber has run almost to the pound with Churchill against their Dewhurst form of last October, with the pair looking the best guide to the value of the 2,000 Guineas form.