13 For Stan James 1000 Guineas

The #330,000 Stan James 1000 Guineas has attracted 13 top quality fillies for the 2006 renewal, run over the NatWest Rowley Mile at Newmarket on Sunday, May 7.

Heading the list of runners for the second Classic is the Aidan O´Brien-trained Rumplestiltskin, a dual Group One scorer in 2005 and ante-post favourite at 4/1 with sponsors Stan James. O´Brien also runs Race For The Stars, successful in the Listed Finnforest Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket last season.

The third Irish runner, Alexander Alliance is supplied by Tommy Stack, who sent out Las Meninas to victory in 1994. She ran twice in 2005, putting up an impressive display to win the Listed Flame Of Tara European Breeders Fund Stakes at the Curragh in October.

Godolphin is represented by Silca´s Sister, who was last seen out when defeating the colts in the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville in August. This will be the Inchinor filly´s first run for the Maktoum family´s operation, having previously been trained by Mick Channon.

Channon, seeking his first British Classic victory, relies on Flashy Wings, a four-time winner in 2005. Her triumphs included the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot at York and the Group Two Lowther Stakes at York.

Another trainer also searching a first British Classic success is Brian Meehan. The Manton handler runs Donna Blini, who is already a Group One winner at Newmarket, having collected the the Group One Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes in September when she defeated Wake Up Maggie and Flashy Wings.

There would surely be no more popular winner on Sunday than Speciosa, trained at Thorney in Cambridgeshire by Pam Sly. The Danehill Dancer filly has won twice previously on the NatWest Rowley Mile course, having taken the Group Two Owen Brown Rockfel Stakes in October and the Group Three Shadwell Nell Gwyn Stakes on her seasonal reappearance last month.

Other leading contenders include Nannina, victorious in the Group One Meon Valley Stud Fillies´ Mile over the NatWest Rowley Mile in September and out to provide John Gosden with a second Stan James Guineas win, following Lahan in 2000. The Richard Hannon-trained Nasheej, third in the Meon Valley Stud Valley Stud Fillies´ Mile, is set to reoppose, having won on her seasonal debut in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury last month.

Sir Mark Prescott saddles his first British Classic runner in Confidential Lady, a Group Three scorer at Deauville last season while the Heath House handler´s former assistant Chris Wall runs Wake Up Maggie, runner-up to Donna Blini in last season´s Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes.

Completing the field are the Jeremy Noseda-trained La Chunga, successful in the Group Three Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot at York last season and Spinning Queen from the Barry Hills yard, runner-up to Speciosa in the Shadwell Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket on April 18.

Fascinating StanJamesuk.Com Jockey Club Stakes In Prospect

The #90,000 StanJamesUk.com Jockey Club Stakes, also run at Newmarket on Sunday, May 7, has attracted a select field of seven.

The star attraction in the Group Two 12-furlong contest is the Andre Fabre-trained Shirocco, winner of the Grade One Breeders´ Cup Turf at Belmont Park in October having previously finished fourth to Hurricane Run in the Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. The five-year-old Monsun horse will be making his seasonal debut.

He has to give 2lb and upwards to his six opponents, including Bandari, victorious in last year´s Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot at York, and Hard Top, who landed the Great Voltiguer Stakes at York in 2005 before running fifth in the St Leger at Doncaster.

The seven-runner field is completed by Enforcer, Gulf, Munsef and Self Defense.

Ground & Weather Update

The thundery showers which are forecast for Newmarket are now not set to arrive until lunchtime on Saturday, with around three millimetres expected before more prolonged rain arrives Saturday night, which is due to clear on Sunday morning and could bring another six millimetres.

The going remains GOOD-TO-FIRM. As a result of this forecast, the section of track between the three-furlong and two-furlong markers, where the Bushes are, has been watered this lunchtime to the tune of three millimetres.

Michael Prosser, Clerk of the Course, explained: 'The 'Bushes furlong', as we call it, is always the quickest on the track, partly because it is at the top of an undulation and partly because it has less topsoil. It is where the horses start to quicken as they approach the dip before the final ascent to the winning line, so we want to make sure that there is absolutely no jar in it.

'There is a great covering of grass on the track and moisture remains in the soil underneath as a result of the 10 millimetres of rain that we had on Monday. The weathermen have assured me that rain will arrive and three millimetres tomorrow would freshen it up, but it would still be good, fast ground.'