Nakheel under a cloud

Mark Johnston’s Nakheel, as short as 10-1 in some lists for the Stan James 2000 Guineas, is under a cloud and will not have his planned racecourse gallop at Newmarket this week.

The Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned three-year-old was unbeaten in two starts last year, culminating in a Listed success at Pontefract but rumours were rife on the betting exchanges that something was amiss.