Result:1 Rock of Gibraltar (A O'Brien)
J Murtagh 9-1, 2 Hawk Wing 6-4f, 3 Redback 25-1. 22 ran.

The 2,000 Guineas, a one-mile race for colts, is the first Classic of the Flat season.

Champion trainer Aidan O'Brien had four runners, led by hot favourite Hawk Wing, ridden by Mick Kinane.

But Hawk Wing finished a narrow second to stablemate Rock of Gibraltar, owned by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and ridden by Johnny Murtagh.

The fast-finishing runner-up appeared to have suffered from the draw, with the winner racing on the faster side of the track.

2,000 Guineas field (Number, draw, form, name, trainer, jockey)

1 (6) Aramram 521
(M Channon) S Drowne

2 (9) Bragadino 126-0
(Sir M Stoute) M Hills

3 (2) Compton Dragon 21-14
(GA Butler) E Ahern

4 (13) Coshocton 12-
(M Jarvis) P Robinson

5 (10) Hawk Wing 1211-
(AP O'Brien IRE) 9 0 J Spencer

6 (8) Ho Choi 124-
(Miss L Perratt) J Carroll

7 (4) King of Happiness 1-1
(Sir M Stoute) K Fallon

8 (15) Love Regardless 1-
(M Johnston) K Darley

9 (12) Massalani 11-1
(A Fabre FR) O Peslier

10 (3) Meshaheer 1313-
(Saeed Bin Suroor) R Hills

11 (7) Naheef 112-
(Saeed Bin Suroor) L Dettori

12 (18) Parasol 21D36-
(Saeed Bin Suroor) D O'Donohoe

13 (5) Rapscallion 31111-
(J Eustace) J Tate

14 (16) Redback 143-31
(R Hannon) D Holland

15 (22) Rock Of Gibraltar 11211-
(AP O'Brien IRE) J Murtagh

16 (17) Sholokhov 123-
(AP O'Brien IRE) P Scallan

17 (11) Steenberg 421-5
(M Tompkins) TE Durcan

18 (20) Sweet Band 31-3
(E Dunlop) R Hughes

19 (1) Tendulkar 13-
(AP O'Brien IRE) G Duffield

20 (19) Twilight Blues 323U-1
(B Meehan) Pat Eddery

21 (14) Where Or When 01414-
(T Mills) T Quinn

22 (21) Zipping 3122-2
(R Collet FR) D Bonilla