George Favourite For Guineas Double

George Washington is a red-hot 2-7 favourite to complete a Classic double on Saturday.

The brilliant Aidan O'Brien-trained colt was one of 19 horses confirmed at the five-day stage for the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh.

The son of Danehill, a runaway winner of the Stan James-sponsored equivalent at Newmarket earlier in the month, was one of nine left in by O'Brien.

The Ballydoyle maestro's squad also includes Aussie Rules and Marcus Andronicus, who recorded a famous one-two in the French 2000 version at Longchamp.

His other possibles are Arabian Prince, Benjamin Franklin, Hurricane Cat, Ivan Denisovich, Major Commitment and River Tiber.

The Jeremy Noseda-trained Araafa, who was fourth to George Washington at Newmarket, is part of a three-strong British entry.

Officials at the Curragh expect the ground to ride on the easy side.

'Looking ahead to Saturday I think it will be on the easy side. Whether it is soft or good to soft I'm not sure,' racecourse manager Paul Hensey told At The Races.

'There is quite a bit of wind forecast for the next few days which is very positive news because like Newmarket it dries out very quickly when it is windy.

'It's also scheduled to get quite cold later in the week and there is a risk of frost which could affect the ground as well.'

? PA Sport