O'Brien has strong showing for 2000 Guineas

Racing: Aidan O'Brien’s Mastercraftsman and Rip Van Winkle are among 19 entries for the stanjames

Racing:Aidan O'Brien's Mastercraftsman and Rip Van Winkle are among 19 entries for the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas at the latest forfeit stage.

O'Brien has a very strong hand as the horses occupy two of the top three places in the betting, while the Coolmore handler has also left in Born To Be King, Grand Ducal, Set Sail and Westphalia.

Jim Bolger could run Gan Amhras and Intense Focus, while John Oxx has both Arazan and Sea The Stars in what is a strong Irish challenge.

Brian Meehan's Craven Stakes winner Delegator is also among the entries. The Dansili colt leapt to the head of the market for the season's first Classic following his hugely impressive victory at Newmarket last week but is sure to face a stern test back on the Rowley Mile on May 2.

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The Godolphin team could be represented by Ashram and Shaweel while Cityscape, Evasive, French ace Naaqoos and Lord Shanakill are all among the possibles at this stage.

Bolger has left in Cuis Ghaire, Maoineach and Oh Goodness Me, while Heart Shaped is the only representative for O'Brien in the 26 possibles for the stanjames.com 1000 Guineas at Newmarket following the latest forfeit stage. .

Fantasia and Rainbow View are also among the possibles. Fantasia made a brilliant reappearance in the Nell Gwyn Stakes last week, while Rainbow View has been off the track since beating Fantasia in the Fillies' Mile last September.

Both fillies are now owned by George Strawbridge and connections have said they are unlikely to clash on the Rowley Mile on May 3rd, with Fantasia a possible for the French equivalent instead.

Rae Guest's Serious Attitude is another major player along with the Clive Brittain-trained Nashmiah.

Ghanaati, Lahaleeb, Again and Shimah are all leading players in the Group One heat.

Leading owner Hamdan Al Maktoum looks set to be doubly represented in the fillies' Classic with Ghanaati and Shimah both set to don the famous blue and white silks.

Ghanaati won a seven-furlong maiden at Kempton on her latest outing in October and enjoyed a racecourse gallop at Newmarket last week.

Shimah was second in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh last time and the owner's racing manager Angus Gold reports both fillies to be in good order.