Rebel surprise in Guineas

Cockney Rebel came with a devastating run under Olivier Peslier to spring a 25-1 surprise in the Stan James 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Geoff Huffer's charge made his move on the outside of the stands side group and, after taking control with around a furlong to go, kept up the gallop to shoot clear of 33-1 chance Vital Equine.

Dutch Art claimed third spot at 14-1 and fared best of those to have raced on the far side, while Duke Of Marmalade took fourth.

Soon after the gates opened a group of 10 split off and elected to race on the far side, with the remainder hugging the stands rail.
Vital Equine blazed a trail on the near side and opened up a significant lead with a quarter of a mile to run.

US Ranger assumed command of the far side group at that point but the finishers on that part of the track were always just playing second fiddle.

Major Cadeaux briefly looked a threat to Vital Equine as the field emerged from the Dip but his effort began to falter as Cockney Rebel pounced on the wide outside.

Olivier Peslier brought the Val Royal colt with a well-timed run to seize command and once the duo hit the front the result was never in doubt.

Cockney Rebel saw out the mile in exemplary fashion as Vital Equine stuck on gamely to finish a length and a half behind the winner.

Dutch Art improved markedly on his Greenham Stakes reappearance and flew home late to take third and Duke Of Marmalade stuck to his task back in fourth.

The winning owner Phil Cunningham said afterwards: It's a dream for a small owner. He's in the Derby - Geoff's preference was for the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot (before today) but he didn't look like he was stopping there.

'It's a marvellous day. Geoff would have told anyone the horse would have been in the first three. He was the forgotten horse.'