ELARQAM can foil Aidan O'Brien's bid for a remarkable ninth 2000 Guineas

success in 20 years by justifying the faith of connections in the Qipco-sponsored Classic at Newmarket today.

North Yorkshire trainer Mark Johnston, pictured, and his team have made no secret of the high regard they have for a horse who goes to Headquarters unbeaten in two starts.

His lack of experience, particularly against the battle-hardened O'Brien horses, is a natural concern, but Elarqam does have course know-how, having won the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes over seven furlongs of the Rowley Mile in September.

And he had a racecourse gallop at Newmarket recently as part of his preparation.

There is no doubt Elarqam is bred to be a top-drawer performer, being the

product of two Guineas winners – the mighty Frankel and Attraction.

That may not be a guarantee to success, but the signs so far suggest Elarqam

has inherited plenty of ability and can emulate his parents by being a Classic

winner himself.

Gustav Klimt appears O'Brien's number one hope, but it is generally folly

to ignore any of his runners in races of this nature.

Of the others, Expert Eye was a big disappointment in the Dewhurst when sent off the odds-on favourite, but he shaped well when runner-up in the Greenham on his reappearance.

He has pleased trainer Sir Michael Stoute since that effort and has definite

place prospects.

Recent John Porter Stakes winner Defoe can justify the decision to supplement him for the Dunaden Jockey Club Stakes.

Roger Varian's four-year-old impressed that day at Newbury and is obviously

giving his trainer the right signs.

Havana Grey can strike for the three-year-old generation when he goes up

against his elders in the Longholes Palace House Stakes.

Karl Burke's young sprinter took the Group Three Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last term and was placed at Group One and Two level as well.

With no top-quality established older speedster in the line-up, Havana Grey has sound prospects of becoming the first of his age group to score since in Amour Propre in 2009.

Donncha can land a deserved victory in the Commission Free Racing At Matchbook Handicap at Goodwood.

Robert Eddery's seven-year-old has just needed a bit of help from the assessor and he has now dropped to his last successful mark nearly of almost three years ago.

Humbert has finished second in big spring handicaps at Doncaster and Newbury and can go one better in the totesport.com Hunt Cup at Wetherby for trainer Hugo Palmer.

Charlie Appleby's Roussel was a smart juvenile last term, finishing second in

two Listed races.

He can overcome an absence of 280 days when he takes on lesser opposition in the Charles & Sienna Of Bawtry Novice Stakes at Doncaster.

SELECTIONS:

CORK: 1.30 Aspen Belle, 2.00 Ishigati, 2.35 Jewel Maker, 3.10 Comeragh Haze, 3.40 Song Of The Sky, 4.15 Bandua, 4.50 Onlyhuman, 5.25 Agent Zigzag.

DONCASTER: 5.15 George Bowen, 5.50 Broken Spear, 6.20 Night Castle, 6.50

Bertiewhittle, 7.20 Roussel, 7.50 Stanley, 8.20 Rayna's World.

GOODWOOD: 1.35 Le Torrent, 2.05 Isabel De Urbina, 2.40 Donncha, 3.15 Bahamian Sunrise, 3.50 Nyaleti, 4.25 Qaroun, 5.00 Honey Man, 5.35 Liva.

HEXHAM: 5.35 Newstart, 6.05 Little Bruce, 6.35 Or De Vassy, 7.05 Total Assets, 7.35 Greensalt, 8.05 Swashbuckle, 8.35 Amuse Me.

NEWMARKET: 1.50 Another Eclipse, 2.20 Havana Grey, 2.55 Defoe, 3.35 ELARQAM (NAP), 4.10 Chagatai, 4.45 Petrus, 5.20 Symbolization.

UTTOXETER: 1.40 Young Phoenix, 2.10 Dark Force, 2.45 Present From Dubai, 3.20 Storm Home, 3.55 Beeves, 4.30 Drinks Interval, 5.05 The Boss's Dream, 5.40 Irish Octave.

WETHERBY: 1.25 Paddy's Rock, 1.55 Zatorius, 2.30 Rare Groove, 3.05 Humbert, 3.45 Castle Hill Cassie, 4.20 Fujaira Prince, 4.55 Saroog, 5.30 Archie Stevens.

WEXFORD: 2.25 Little Princess, 3.00 Park Paddocks, 3.30 She's Made It, 4.05 Wait Here, 4.40 Mick The Boyo, 5.10 Lacken Bridge, 5.45 Ifyoucatchmenow.

DOUBLE: Elarqam and Donncha.