Good ground expected for St Nicholas Abbey in Guineas

Racing Post Trophy hero ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (Montjeu [Ire]) heads 22 acceptors

which remain in Saturday's Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) after Monday's five-day

declaration stage. Ballydoyle's ante-post favorite is one of three Aidan O'Brien

trainees left in the one-mile classic, with the team completed by Dewhurst S.

(Eng-G1) runner-up FENCING MASTER (Oratorio [Ire]) and VISCOUNT NELSON (Giant's

Causeway).

ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL (Elusive Quality), runner-up to St Nicholas Abbey in the

Racing Post Trophy, also remains engaged and franked the form of that Doncaster

event with victory in the April 15 Craven S. (Eng-G3) at Newmarket in his

seasonal return. Unbeaten AWZAAN (Alhaarth) is another prime candidate for

Rowley Mile success and the Middle Park S. (Eng-G1) winner's connections are

confident of a bold showing.

"Awzaan has never run beyond six furlongs, but both (trainer) Mark Johnston

and (jockey) Richard Hills feel that a mile is well within his capabilities,"

said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum.

"We kept him at six furlongs last season because he had the speed for that

distance and he quickened so well in the Middle Park.

"He hasn't had a run this year. Mark felt that, by giving him four races last

season, the horse had gained plenty of experience and didn't need a run. Richard

has been up to Middleham once and the horse came down to Newmarket to have a

racecourse gallop. That was all fine-tuning and Awzaan is now back to his racing

weight. He is small but that is the way he was made and if he is good enough, he

is big enough. Richard will plan to switch him off in the race and he will

hopefully come with a good run and win.

"This horse has done nothing wrong. He fooled me all the way last season and

proved that he is a top-class horse."

Godolphin's three remaining entries include Racing Post Trophy third AL ZIR (Medaglia

d'Oro) and Champagne S. (Eng-G2) victor POET'S VOICE (Dubawi). France's sole

representative is the Prix Djebel (Fr-G3) winner MAKFI (Dubawi), and he is still

on course to make an excursion across the English Channel.

"All being well Makfi goes to Newmarket," trainer Mikel Delzangles told

Racing Post after the sophomore completed his latest workout at Chantilly

Monday. "I find him in great shape and he has certainly come on since the Djebel.

I couldn't have him better."

With dry weather forecast in the build up to this weekend's Guineas meeting

at Newmarket, course officials have commenced a program of irrigation in a bid

to maintain optimum track conditions on the Rowley Mile. Clerk of the course

Edward Prosser expects some precipitation later this week, but it is not

expected to have much impact and eight millimeters of water was applied Monday.

"There is a little change in the weather from Thursday," Prosser told

Racing Post. "The winds change around from the northwest, it becomes cooler

and you're looking at (temperatures of) 16 to 17 degrees (celsius). It becomes

breezier and there's a chance of showers. We're just going to have to monitor it

and potentially irrigate at the end of the week, but we'll just assess the

moisture levels and take a judgment."

The going is currently described as good, good-to-firm in places.