Belardo set for Greenham Belardo bids to show his Dewhurst triumph was no fluke and enhance his claims for the Qipco 2000 Guineas when he takes on a host of other Classic hopefuls in the Aon Greenham Stakes at Newbury. The Roger Varian-trained colt sprang a surprise when, as the outsider of six, he lifted Europe's premier two-year-old prize in tremendous style at Newmarket in October. Belardo has been pleasing his trainer, who reports the three-year-old, who is owned jointly by Godolphin and Prince Faisal, to be ready to return to the fray. The Newmarket handler said: "I have been happy with Belardo throughout the winter and he has trained well this spring. I have always had it in my mind to run him in the Greenham as his prep race for the 2000 Guineas and I think it will put him just right for Newmarket in two weeks' time. "He showed in the Dewhurst that he is a very high-class colt and this looks like the ideal spot to launch his three-year-old campaign." Belardo will be ridden for the first time by James Doyle, who said: "I sat on him last week. He did a nice routine piece, it was my first sit on him and he seems nice and straightforward. He's a horse with a turn of foot and looks like he's got all the credentials. I couldn't fault him the other morning." Belardo had been beaten by both Richard Hannon-trained contenders Ivawood and Estidhkaar before enjoying his finest hour at Newmarket, where he had the latter five lengths back in fourth place. Ivawood won his first three starts but lost his 100 per cent record when going down by a nose to Charming Thought in the Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket on his final start. "He's in great form. He looks very well. We've been happy with his work. He's been doing a lot of it with Shifting Power and Estidhkaar," Hannon said. "He's moving great and he always looked a horse for this year anyway, even when he was winning last year. We are very hopeful. I think the track will suit him ideally. We didn't go to Newmarket because we wanted to run over seven before we went over a mile in the Guineas and he doesn't have a penalty. It's a good opportunity for us. "He'll definitely stay seven. He has got an awful lot of speed and it is a concern. We won't know until tomorrow or possibly not even until the afternoon of the Guineas. He does give himself every chance of getting a mile. He settles, he relaxes and he's uncomplicated. I'm hopeful, but not confident (of getting a mile)." Jockey Richard Hughes is expecting Ivawood to stake his claim for Classic honours. He said: "He seems very well, things have gone according to plan and he's moving absolutely wonderful. He's not much bigger than he was last year because he was big enough. "He looks really well, his coat is nearly there, but there is a bit of improvement left in him."
