Hannon so close to second 2,000 Guineas triumph with Barney

Barney Roy will bid for compensation in next month's St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot after his gallant second to Churchill in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas.

The Greenham Stakes winner, who was the kingpin of three runners in the Godolphin colours, may well have finished closer had he not taken a bad step when delivering his challenge in the Dip. In the end Richard Hannon's runner was gathered together by James Doyle to be beaten just a length.

Hannon quipped: “Nobody died, it’s fine. They might do, but not just now!

"I'm very proud of him. He ran a good race, but he stumbled coming into the Dip, mainly through a little inexperience, but he has run a super race and we are very pleased with him.

"I think it is fair to say the winner had the run of the race. The St James’s Palace Stakes is likely to be on the cards for him now."

Barney Roy (blue jacket, blue cap) stayed on strongly after becoming unbalancedCredit: Edward Whitaker

Doyle added: “He has run an absolute stormer, but everything went against us. We were hoping for a better pace but they didn’t go very quick at all and I didn’t have a lot of room in the first furlong, so I had to take him back.

"He faltered in the Dip just through inexperience – but it was a cracking run. I'm really pleased with him.”

Just a neck away in third was French raider Al Wukair, whose connections were also ruing the lack of pace.

Harry Herbert, racing manager to owners Al Shaqab Racing, said: "A faster-run race would have suited him better but he's still run a good race. The best horse won."

Dream Castle and Eminent, the two Frankel offspring in the race, failed to emulate their father but still ran respectably in finishing fifth and sixth.

Jim Crowley, rider of Eminent, said: "He got away with running on fast ground once in the Craven Stakes, but twice was too much. He wants a longer trip ideally but he'll be back."