Native Trail for Charlie Appleby heads the market for the first classic of the season.

Unbeaten as a juvenile the champion two-year-old captured the National Stakes in Ireland following up in the Dewhurst at Newmarket to make him a double G1 winner. He returned here for the Craven and in need of the run he was capable of stamping his class in his first step up to a mile under regular pilot William Buick.

He heads stablemate Coroebus in the betting who will be in the hands of James Doyle. Trice raced, all over a mile, he was a maiden winner first time out and then was beaten a neck in the Royal Lodge making amends when dropped in class in the Autumn Stakes.

Luxemburg and Point Lonsdale travel from Ballydoyle with the former the mount of Ryan Moore. Unbeaten in three he won his maiden at Killarney and looked very classy when winning the Beresford at the Curragh confirming the view when taking the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

Point Lonsdale is four from five, all over 7f. He was a winner of the Tyros and Futurity and went off odds on favourite for the National Stakes but was outdone by Native Trail, He’ll be partnered by Frankie Dettori.

Perfect Power for Richard Fahy steps into unknown terrority over the trip. A double G1 winner, the Morny and Middle Park suggested sprinting would be his forte as a three year old. Connections have been brave but stamina is the question. Christophe Soumillon retains the ride.

William Knight’s Checkandchallenge has had two runs on the all weather, he’ll be ridden by Danny Tudhope. A winner of both the challenge will be transferring his ability to the turf. Edron also twice raced on the all weather was a surprise winner of the Feilden returning 22/1 on his first outing on turf. He drops a furlong in trip with John Egan in the plate.

Of the others the one that could spring a surprise is Jim Bolger’s Boundless Ocean.

He made his debut in a maiden at the Curragh in October over 7f, pipped on the line he turned out two days later when upped in class in the Killavullan Stakes, fourth beaten 1¼L he didn’t get a clear run. Jim turned him out the following week in the Eyrefield Stakes over 1m1f where he finished fifth, again he met trouble in running. First time out this year over 7f, he was pipped a short head in the Madrid Handicap, then stepped up in trip over a 1m2f at Leopardstown he finally broke his duck.

Native Trail, Luxemburg and Perfect Power bring G1 class to the race and it will be facaniating to see how they go. The former pair could well battle it out however in a race where a few may fail to stay and where others may find the dip to hard to handle it may well be worth considering Boundless Ocean.

With some bookmakes paying a fifth on the first four and with Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning knowing what it takes to win a Guineas (they did it last year with Poetic Flair) don’t be surprised if he outruns his odds, available with some at 80/1.

Recommendation

Boundless Ocean 80/1 ew with Paddy Power