Beethoven out of 2000 Guineas after setback
Aidan O’Brien’s Oratorio colt suffered a setback in training and will instead be targeted at the French 2000 Guineas on May 16.
The Ballydoyle handler told his website, www.aidanobrien.ie: “Beethoven has met with a slight training setback and therefore is going to have an easy week this week.
“Unfortunately this is going to rule him out of the StanJames.com English 2000 Guineas and he will now be aimed at the French 2000 Guineas instead.”
Beethoven had been around the 40-1 mark for Classic glory.
Meanwhile, races like the Jersey Stakes and the July Cup could come into the equation for Canford Cliffs if a mile proves beyond him.
The Richard Hannon-trained three-year-old, winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last season, hung markedly left in the seven-furlong Greenham Stakes at Newbury and was collared close home by stablemate Dick Turpin.
Richard Hannon jnr, the trainer’s son and assistant, reports both horses on course for a tilt at the Classic on Saturday week.
He said: “They both look great and will probably take their chance.
“We’ll ride Canford Cliffs differently and give him every chance (of getting a mile).
“If he does, he does – if not there’s the Jersey and the July Cup.
“He only had three runs last season and that was his first this year, there was nothing taking him on and he was just looking around.”
Inler meanwhile will have another serious piece of work on Wednesday as he continues his preparation for the Classic.
A four-length winner of his only start to date at Newmarket, he impressed onlookers in a workout at Headquarters last week.
Best also has high hopes for his work companion that day, Elspeth’s Boy, a 33-1 winner of his sole start at Wolverhampton in November.
“He’s come out of his racecourse gallop at Newmarket really well and he’ll work tomorrow morning which is when we’ll find out how much he has come on for it,” Best said of Inler.
“He certainly looks to have tightened up a little bit and I couldn’t be happier with him – I’m really pleased I’m going there with a horse with such a great chance.
“Elspeth’s Boy had really taken time to come to hand but he looked really fresh and well this morning so don’t rule him out.
“I know people think it’s all about Inler – he would be my number-one hope - but that gallop was over seven furlongs and the equivalent of a six-furlong race.
“Inler is a very fast horse who should stay a mile, but Elspeth’s Boy is more likely to be a mile-and-a-quarter horse so that gallop wouldn’t have suited him.
“I’m hopeful that if I can get them both there in one piece they would have a decent chance,” the Kent trainer told At The Races.
Best also confirmed that Mullionmileanhour will head for the Duke of York Stakes on May 12 after his narrow defeat to Equiano last week.
Meanwhile Marcus Tregoning is delighted with the progress Rumoush has made since her victory in the Feilden Stakes last week as money continues to pour on her for the StanJames.com 1000 Guineas.
The Rahy filly, a half-sister to last year’s Guineas winner Ghanaati and smart stablemate Mawatheeq, is now just 9-1 with William Hill for the Classic having been available at 16-1 just 24 hours ago.
She has been given the go ahead for the Guineas and Tregoning is keen to run in the Oaks as well.
“She’s in very good form and we’ve decided to let her take her chance in the Guineas,” said Tregoning.
“I hope she’ll run a very big race.
“She can only improve on what she has done to date. She’s got a big frame and as she continues to fill out she should improve further.
“There’s plenty of stamina in her pedigree to suggest that the Oaks trip should be well within her compass too.
“It is a family I know well. We’ve got Mawatheeq and she’s also related to Nashwan and Nayef – I’ve trained an awful lot of them.”
Kate Miller, spokeswoman for William Hill, said: “This does not appear on paper to be a vintage year for the 1000 Guineas, with doubts about some of the leading contenders.
“At the behest of four-time winning owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, Rumoush will line-up in the race and appears on paper to have all the right credentials for a Guineas winner.”
Plume and Decorative, both owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, are to miss the contest.
