Gleneagles headlines Guineas field

A total of 19 colts have been declared for Saturday's Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, headed by Gleneagles.

The ante-post favourite is one of two Aidan O'Brien-trained runners along with Ol' Man River.

Ger Lyons sends Capella Sansevero, but Godolphin have confirmed that both Maftool and Belardo will sidestep the first Classic of the season in favour of the French equivalent.

Maftool, who is trained by Saeed bin Suroor, was a Group Three winner in Britain last year and claimed the UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan during the winter before finishing second in the UAE Derby.

He had been around a 40-1 chance for the Guineas but will now join the Roger Varian-trained Belardo in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp on Sunday week.

Bin Suroor told www.godolphin.com: "We have decided to miss the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and go for the French Guineas instead, as it just gives him a little more time to prepare."

The Wow Signal has also been ruled out after meeting with a late setback during a routine piece of work. Last season's Coventry Stakes and Prix Morny winner was a general 25-1 chance for the race.

The John Quinn-trained runner was given a racecourse gallop at Pontefract earlier this month as part of his build up and connections had been hoping for a good performance.

Harry Herbert, spokesman for owners Al Shaqab Racing, said: "The Wow Signal suffered an injury in one of his final preparation gallops and with it being this close to the race, there is no way he is going to run.

"It is bitter blow for John Quinn as he was flying at home and was in fabulous form.

"The racecourse gallop at Pontefract didn't look visually exciting but the horse really needed it. The horse has got a great temperament and is very laid back and that really woke him up. In many ways he was one of the underrated horses in the race despite having better form than most of the field.

"At this stage we are still trying to work out what the injury is. It has been a frustrating time but hopefully we will know more in a few days."

Barry Hills sidesteps the race with Craven Stakes runner-up Nafaqa, who heads to Chester instead.

Hills said: "The owner has plenty of runners for the Guineas so it looks like Nafaqa will go for the Dee Stakes at Chester instead. It is a step up in trip but his sire (Sir Percy) won the Derby and it is a race I have won 11 times in the past."

Richard Hannon has declared four in the race with Greenham second and third Estidhkaar and Ivawood set to be joined by Craven winner and third Kool Kompany and Moheet.

Varian will still have a runner in the race in the shape of Intilaaq, as will Godolphin, who field the Andre Fabre-trained Territories.

There will also be a second French-trained runner as Freddy Head sends Ride Like The Wind to Newmarket following his Prix Djebel success.

Andrew Balding will be represented by Elm Park, while Maftool's absence allows James Doyle to maintain his association with Home Of The Brave, having won the European Free Handicap aboard Hugo Palmer's charge earlier this month.

Sir Mark Prescott runs Celestial Path, with Bossy Guest, Capella Sansevero, Code Red, Dutch Connection, Glenalmond, Hail The Hero and Room Key completing the line-up.