Connections hoping Stubbs can shake up big two English challenger Stubbs Art is reported to have made the necessary progress to suggest another bold effort against Henrythenavigator and New Approach in Saturday´s Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas. Although sent off at 100-1 after only finishing fifth in a handicap at Sandown on his first run of the season, trainer David Elsworth was insistent at a crack at the Guineas at Newmarket and was rewarded with a third-placing, just four lengths behind the top two. The home-based pair will line-up as part of a declared field of eight, with Elsworth persuading his colt´s art dealer-owner Matthew Green to pay 40,000 to supplement. Green´s racing manager Jimmy Lindley said: "Elsie has always thought a lot of the horse and is one of the greatest pros in the game so when he speaks, people listen. "He needs to snatch four lengths back from New Approach and Henrythenavigator and if those two hold their form, he ought to finish closer." William Hill have New Approach as their 5-4 favourite with Henrythenavigator 15-8 and their Irish spokesman Tony Kenny said: "Everyone across the industry is talking about the rematch between New Approach and Henrythenavigator and it will be fascinating to see the pair in action on Saturday. "At the moment the punters are just about favouring New Approach, but we have seen some solid support for Henrythenavigator in the last few days. "Neither of the pair would be particularly good results for us - so we´ll be praying that one of the less-exposed horses in race can do us a favour." Those other horses also include Dermot Weld´s 2000 Guineas Trial winner Famous Name, Breeders´ Cup winner Nownownow - having his first run for David Wachman - and the Brendan Duke-trained Sammy The Snake.
