AFTER four Guineas trials took place last week at Newmarket and Newbury, the early season classic picture is one of tarnished reputations, but perhaps our expectations were too high on account of early season excitement.

The first four in the betting for the 2000 Guineas will not run before Newmarket and it is highly unlikely that any of the trials have showcased a potential classic winner, but it is worth looking at the 2000 Guineas trials forensically in case post-race scepticism missed something.