 Henrythenavigator (left) won the Guineas by a matter of inches |
Henrythenavigator got up inside the final furlong to stun hot favourite New Approach and win the 2,000 Guineas. The 11-8 shot made all the running in the season's first Classic and when he went clear with two furlongs to go at Newmarket it looked decisive. But Johnny Murtagh had been biding his time towards the back of the pack and came with a storming run from deep. New Approach rallied at the death, but Henrythenavigator (11-1) held on to win by a nose, with Stubbs Art third. Murtagh, who has just started his career as the retained rider to the powerful Coolmore operation in Ireland, said: "Fair play to the second - I thought I was going to beat him a neck, but he battled back. "My fellow really answered the call in the last few strides. It keeps getting better."  | 606: DEBATE |
Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "He has always been a good horse. Last year we backed off with the two-year-olds mid-summer and only got going again with them late on. "They were also running on winter ground through the summer so we gave them all time. We knew we wouldn't know the results of that until this year. "Johnny gave him a masterful ride and he has always had plenty of speed. It was his first run of the season and he will come on for it - Johnny said he got tired in the final 50 yards." O'Brien added the colt might now tackle the Irish 2,000 Guineas, which will be the next target for New Approach. The latter's trainer, Jim Bolger, was putting a brave face on the favourite's defeat. "I'm happy with him. It would have been lovely to win, but he ran a fantastic race anyway," said Bolger. "Everything went very well and they are two very good horses. The Irish Guineas will be next."
stanjamesuk.com 2,000 Guineas (Newmarket)
1. Henrythenavigator (J Murtagh) 11-1
2. New Approach (KJ Manning) 11-8 F
3. Stubbs Art (S Sanders) 100-1
15 ran. Distances: Nose, four lengths, � length
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