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UK: Approach Tops Guineas Contenders

New Approach and Raven's Pass, first and third in the Dewhurst Stakes respectively, will renew rivalries after both appeared among 15 declarations for the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas.

There were no major surprises after the field was unveiled, with Godolphin's Fast Company and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Jupiter Pluvius expected absentees.

Added to the mix is Godolphin's Racing Post Trophy winner Ibn Khaldun, O'Brien's pair of Henrythenavigator and Plan, along with Free Handicap winner Stimulation.

Scintillo, a Group One winner in Italy as a juvenile, takes his chance as does Alfathaa, Bahamian Kid, Dream Eater, Fireside, Moynahan, Perfect Stride, Strike The Deal and Stubbs Art.

Strike The Deal is likely to be an outsider, despite having won the Group Two Richmond Stakes last term.

The Van Nistelrooy colt went on to finish fourth in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and was most recently seen when running a fine fifth in the nine-furlong UAE Derby at Nad Al Sheba in March.

Trainer Jeremy Noseda has only had two previous runners in the race, the last being Araafa, who finished fourth in 2006.

Noseda said: "Subject to the ground being good or faster, Strike The Deal will run in the Guineas and Eddie Ahern will ride.

"We are rolling the dice a little bit, but the form he has shown through his career gives him every right to take his place in the line-up.

"If he were to finish in the first four or five, we would be delighted," the Newmarket handler told www.jeremynoseda.com.


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