Nephrite unlikely to run in 2,000 Guineas after defeat at The Curragh

Camelot shortened again at the head of the market for the 2,000 Guineas as another of his potential rivals failed to impress on Sunday. Nephrite, who had been fifth in the betting lists for the race a week on Saturday, was only third at odds of 4-9 on his seasonal reappearance at The Curragh and is now unlikely to appear at Newmarket. Aidan O'Brien, the trainer of Nephrite, was able to take the setback in his stride since he also trains both Camelot and Requisition, the winner of the Listed race in which Nephrite was beaten. Nephrite, he said, had "always looked very pacey" and had failed to see out the seven furlongs on rain-softened ground. The trainer said he would now be dropped in trip. O'Brien has notably failed to confirm that Camelot is a definite runner in the Guineas, for which he is now a best price of 7-4 from 9-4, and he once more declined the opportunity to do so when interviewed on At The Races. However, he said: "We've had one eye on the Guineas with him for a long time and that's the way we're looking at it". Of Requisition, who made almost all the running and kept on dourly, O'Brien said: "We'll have a look at some of the Guineas with him, maybe an Irish or whatever, something like that. We'll wait and see." The Ballydoyle trainer had three winners on the card, including in the Group Three Gladness Stakes with Excelebration, having his first run since joining O'Brien from Marco Botti's Newmarket yard. The four-year-old cruised through the race and won as easily as odds of 2-7 suggested he would. His next task will be stiffer, as he is expected to take on Frankel in Newbury's Lockinge Stakes next month. Excelebration finished behind Frankel three times last year. "I'd imagine that is what we'll be looking at now," O'Brien said. "Physically he's very well made. He's done very well over the winter and you couldn't be happier with his first run."