Rip Van Winkle boost as Johnny Murtagh takes mount

Rip Van Winkle is likely to go off favourite for the 2,000 Guineas, providing he recovers sufficiently from a bruised foot.

Johnny Murtagh has chosen to ride the son of Galileo in preference to his Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate Mastercraftsman at Newmarket.

Bookmakers Stan James immediately clipped the colt to 7-2 joint-favourite with Delegator after 17 horses were left in at the final declaration stage for the first Classic of the season today.

O'Brien is optimistic that Rip Van Winkle will make his seasonal debut. He said: "He has missed some work due to his bruised foot but the problem has improved day by day. We have two more days to go before the race and, hopefully, he will continue to progress."

Pat Smullen will partner Mastercraftsman but former champion jockey Seb Sanders has been left without a ride in the mile Classic after Jeremy Noseda decided to withdraw Himalya. Sanders will head to Goodwood instead.

The Newmarket trainer said: "We haven't had the smoothest of preparations this spring and we felt the race was coming a little bit too early for him. We will get the weekend out of the way and then contemplate Ascot."