Rip Van Winkle's ready to put Guineas rivals to bed

So you can bet that Sir Michael Stoute's Evasive, who took "a lame step" this week, will be almost spot on. You can also be sure that Sea The Stars will be ready, despite less than enthusiastic reports from John Oxx.

Or are these shrewd trainers merely chancing their arm in a wide open Classic?

For even the most usually reliable of trials have shed little light. The Dewhurst Stakes, run over seven furlongs at Newmarket in October, was far from informative. You could have thrown a large duvet over the first eight finishers.

In Rip Van Winkle's case, he was sent off favourite and given too much to do, before finishing an eased-down seventh, beaten two lengths by Intense Focus, who bypasses tomorrow's race in favour of the French Guineas.

Delegator, who was fifth, subsequently showed a good turn of foot on his seasonal bow, winning the Craven over course and distance. Yet he did nothing more than underline his wellbeing in beating a motley crew.

Lord Shanakill (25-1 with William Hill) and Finjaan (33-1 with Ladbrokes) were second and third in the Dewhurst. They have been overlooked because they respectively missed their intended prep run because of a fever and bad ground. But, with fast going anticipated, they should get the extra furlong and look overpriced.

At Churchill Downs tomorrow night (10.00), FRIESAN FIRE will handle the wet conditions better than most in the Kentucky Derby, and Chocolate Candy makes each-way appeal at 14-1.