Nayef return set to be delayed Nayef looks set to miss tomorrow`s Macau Jockey Club Craven Stakes and head straight to next month`s Sagitta 2000 Guineas. Trainer Marcus Tregoning is becoming increasingly concerned that further rain on ground already altered to soft after the second race today will provide too taxing a re-introduction for the colt just 16 days before the Classic. 'I think if we get any more rain that will have scuppered it,' said a pessimistic Tregoning. 'It is proper soft ground out there. I know he won on soft last year but this is his first run of the year and I don`t think you want to do it. 'The wind`s in the north-east, it`s cold and there`s been hailstones, and I think you`re better off to skip it than risk a big race.' Tregoning also effectively ruled out Nayef`s alternative entry, in Saturday`s Lane`s End Greenham Stakes at Newbury. He added: 'It`s probably doing this all over the country, but this will probably be better ground here than at Newbury if there is rain about.' Nayef had initially been expected to head straight to the Guineas, in the manner of his half-brother Nashwan 12 years ago when Tregoning was assistant to that horse trainer, Dick Hern. 'I just thought it would have been a nice idea from an education point of view to give him a third race,' said Tregoning. 'Now it looks as if we are not going to do that. I`m not saying it`s a disadvantage, but it might have been an advantage. 'It`ll be disappointing, but it`s not the be-all-and-end-all. The race is only a trial.' Nayef won both his starts as a juvenile in good style to earn his position at the head of the betting for this season`s big races - 5-2 for the Guineas and 8-1 for the Derby. Should he make the line-up, he will be ridden again by Richard Hills with stablemate Ikbal partnered by his brother Michael. Richard Hannon opted to withdraw Tamburlaine from the contest at the final declaration stage and he will now be aimed at the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday. Instead, stablemate King`s Ironbridge, the winner of last year`s Solario Stakes, takes in the race. Michael Jarvis is hoping for a solid run from Forwood, who takes a step up in class but showed good form last season, winning two of his four races.
