14 Stand their ground in the Ultimatebet.com 2000 Guineas In what is being hailed by many as the strongest 2000 Guineas for years, 14 horses have been declared to run in the UltimateBet.com sponsored classic at Newmarket this Saturday. This includes all the leading contenders in the ante-post market, ONE COOL CAT, GREY SWALLOW and AZAMOUR from Ireland, WHIPPER from France, Godolphin´s big hope, SNOW RIDGE, who flew in from Dubai at the start of the week, and the strongly fancied classic trial winners, HAAFHD and SALFORD CITY.The field is completed by BACHELOR DUKE, BARBAJUAN, GLARAMARA, GOLDEN SAHARA, MILK IT MICK, THREE VALLEYS and TUMBLEBRUTUS.'This is a sensational line up, brimming with class,' commented Newmarket´s Clerk of the Course, Michael Prosser. 'As far as I´m aware the vibes are strong from the stables of all seven of the market principals and that doesn´t even bring in two of last season´s top juveniles, MILK IT MICK and THREE VALLEYS. The impression one gets is that several stables rate their contender as being out of the top drawer, but there can only be one winner on Saturday. It´s going to be a sensational showdown!'Numerically it may be the smallest field since 13 went to post in 1996, but in terms of class I suspect you might have to go back further than that to match it.'Between midnight last night and 1pm this lunchtime, 2 millimetres of rain had fallen on the Rowley. This followed 10mm of rain overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday morning. The going remains GOOD. 'There is light rain falling as I speak,' said Michael Prosser at lunchtime, 'but it is not forecast to amount to very much. Tomorrow will be wetter, with residual showers likely on Saturday morning, but the forecasters still tell me that it is likely to be dry by late morning and for the rest of the weekend. The track is in great shape.'
