THE 2000 Guineas trials have been run, but the picture is not a lot clearer than it was two weeks ago.

Of course, it didn’t help that the winter favourite Too Darn Hot didn’t make his intended appointment with the Greenham Stakes at Newbury last Saturday.

John Gosden’s colt was outstanding last year, unbeaten in four, the Solario Stakes winner and the Champagne Stakes winner and the Dewhurst Stakes winner, but you have to tread warily now.

At best, he arrives at Newmarket on the back of a preparation that was not the trainer’s first choice.

The Greenham Stakes, in Too Darn Hot’s absence, was won in impressive fashion by Mohaather, but he may be all speed, he is bred for speed and, while you can understand that connections want to have a go in the Guineas – it’s a shot to nothing – there has to be a worry about the Showcasing colt getting the extra furlong.

We haven’t seen either of the two main Aidan O’Brien Guineas contenders, Ten Sovereigns or Magna Grecia, yet this season.

Like Too Darn Hot, Ten Sovereigns went through his juvenile year unbeaten, he won his maiden and he won the Round Tower Stakes and he won the Middle Park Stakes.

The No Nay Never colt could have a touch of brilliance about him, but he has never been beyond six furlongs in his life. He still has to prove that he has the stamina for a mile.

Last year’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Royal Marine was beaten in January in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial at Meydan, when he admittedly missed the break and probably didn’t handle the dirt.

He could only finish fourth in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday though and, while he was keen and didn’t really have the run of the race, he has questions to answer now.

Skardu was impressive in winning the Craven and should progress, and Persian King will surely be a big player if he makes the trip.

The Godolphin colt landed odds of 1/5 in the Prix de Fontainbleau at Longchamp on Sunday, but Andre Fabre has not confirmed him as a definite runner at Newmarket yet.

Magna Grecia proved his stamina for a mile when he landed the Vertem Futurity Stakes over the trip at Doncaster in October, and there shouldn’t be much between him and Persian King on their running in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket two weeks before that.

And, while Madhmoon could only finish second to Never No More in the Leopardstown Guineas Trial, he only went down by a half a length to a talented and race-fit rival, giving him 3lbs over a distance that was probably short of his best.

Kevin Prendergast’s colt is still in the Guineas picture, hazy though it is.