There are questions to answer before investing one’s hard earned at such short prices on the favourite.

The race itself, a classic in every sense, is a stepping stone to greater things. It more often than not makes us reassess our thinking after its run. In the last ten years only one favourite has obliged.

Indeed we only have to look at last year’s race to remind ourselves of the folly of short priced favourites. St Nicholas Abbey went off at even money after his blistering Racing Post Trophy win the year before. In the Guineas he trailed in sixth behind the 33/1 shot Makfi. Immediately after the race we thought it was poor Guineas. The second, third and fourth went off at 16’s, 12’s and 25’s.

Makfi subsequently defeated the mighty Goldikova in the Jacques Le Marois at Deauville. Dick Turpin took the Jean Prat at Chantilly. Canford Cliffs roared home at the Curragh in the Irish Guineas before adding the St James Place Stakes and Sussex Stakes. Fourth home Xtention is now the Hong Kong champion miler after his success at Sha Tin last Monday. Six subsequent Group 1 wins, all at mile. Let’s be careful before we write off St Nick.

This years running is all about Frankel. Its looks like walkover according to the betting. Frankel’s unbeaten run was extended as a three year old when impressively landing the Greenham Stakes. Henry Cecil’s charge took some time to get in gear but when he did, he only required third to pull clear easily. He is five from five including a Group 1 Dewhurst where he outpointed Roderick O’Connor who in turn franked the form when winning the Criterium International at Saint Cloud on heavy ground. Roderick’s earlier Curragh maiden win when beating the more fancied Master Of Hounds further cements the opinion that Frankel is a high class colt in the making. If there is a concern, it’s the ground. It was good to firm in the Greenham where Frankel encountered genuine fast ground for the first time. Although he won well the time of the race was below standard.

He is opposed by Pathfork. Unbeaten in three he was put away after his National Stakes victory on ground he didn’t like. He beat Casamento who franked that form when going on to win the Racing Post Trophy. He was most impressive on his previous run when winning the Futurity on good to firm.

It’s unlikely we’ll see what appeared last year. The first four home didn’t win at top level as two year olds.

The most likely outcome this year is the winner will come from the four Group 1 winning two year olds of last year. When they come out of the dip at Newmarket on Saturday they’ll be travelling. It may be that Pathfork will be the one who will pick up best off the rattling ground.

If’s it’s a one horse race the winner will likely be very special. To prove that he’ll have to beat those dominant milers of last year, the second, third and fourth from last year’s guineas.