Expanded to win 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket

EXPANDED can secure victory in the Group One Betfred 2,000 Guineas Stakes (No Geldings) (3.35pm) at Newmarket this afternoon, while Lake Victoria can bring up a Classic double for Aidan O’Brien in the Betfred 1,000 Guineas Stakes (Fillies) (3.35pm) at Headquarters tomorrow.

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O'Brien's Expanded can deny favourite Field Of Gold to win the first Classic of the season on Newmarket's Rowley Mile.

With stable-mate Twain missing out through a slight setback, the three-year-old son of Wootton Bassett can step up and give the Ballydoyle maestro a record-extending 11th success in the Colts’ Classic but surprisingly a first since Magna Grecia in 2019.

O'Brien is always to be feared in any of the Classics and although he doesn’t have a hot favourite like his two most recent stars Auguste Rodin and City of Troy, Expanded can triumph where both of those failed.

The three-year-old has only run twice but, as ever, is open to massive improvement in his Classic year.

He won a seven-furlong maiden at the Curragh by a neck from stable-mate First Wave on his belated debut back in October.

Expanded improved massively from that effort a couple of weeks later to go down by a similar distance to the reopposing Shadow Of Light in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes - the traditional and generally best trial for the 2,000 Guineas over seven furlongs of the Rowley Mile.

That was a fine first effort in Group One company and he can improve for his winter break and could take high rank among the milers this season, starting with victory in the 2,000 Guineas.