Ranger To The Rescue?

Bookmakers are hoping the supplemented US Ranger can save them a huge payout on Teofilo and others in the Stan James 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.

The unbeaten Jean-Claude Rouget-trained runner was added to the colts´ Classic at a cost of £25,000 and joined 29 other possibles at the five-day stage.

On offer at double figures just two weeks ago, the son of Danzig is now 5-1 third-favourite.

VC Bet´s Neal Wilkins said: 'US Ranger, trained in the foothills of the Pyrenees by Jean-Claude Rouget, has crept into the Guineas betting almost unnoticed on the back of the scare about Teofilo two weeks ago.

'A win for him on Saturday would be a blinding result for the bookmaking industry. We, in common with other firms, have six-figure liabilities over Teofilo and Dutch Art and will be cheering for a success for the Ranger this weekend.'

US Ranger pleased in a final workout at his base in south-west France over the weekend, confirming the move to supplement by joint-owners Michael Tabor and Joseph Allen.

Andy Smith, who looks after the European interests of Allen, said: 'The work he did at Pau at the weekend was certainly a great catalyst to supplementing him, although it had always been a goal to run in the Guineas and he was only not entered originally because of a clerical error.

'A 50% share of him was sold to Michael Tabor and partners during the winter and it was a joint decision (to supplement) and also a business decision for his future.

'It´s a big step, but he won three races over a mile in the Provinces as a two-year-old without being extended and he did win so easily at Maisons-Laffitte over seven furlongs that he deserves to take his chance.

'He has a nice daisy-cutting action and Christophe Lemaire, who went down to Pau to ride him, was suitably impressed and has been booked to ride.'

There were no surprises among the other confirmed runners.

(C) PA Sport