Unbeaten New Approach in stern Guineas test

LONDON (Reuters) - Unbeaten in his five races, Irish challenger New Approach puts a lofty reputation on the line in Saturday's English 2,000 Guineas (3:25 p.m. British time), the opening classic of the European season.

Trainer Jim Bolger seeks to heal wounds of 2007 when he had to retire through injury his outstanding colt Teofilo who had been all the rage to win that year's Guineas and Epsom Derby after a brilliant two-year-old career.

New Approach with Kevin Manning on board is the 7-4 favourite to provide compensation after landing last October's Dewhurst Stakes, a reliable classic guide.

Godolphin in the form of trainer Saeed bin Suroor and jockey Frankie Dettori provide the 9-2 second favourite Ibn Khaldun, easy winner of another of last season's trials.

Ireland's Aidan O'Brien, ever a danger when the classics roll round, saddles two of the 15 runners, Henrythenavigator (10-1), a Royal Ascot winner last year, and 25-1 outsider Plan, who takes a large step up in class.

Raven's Pass, trained by John Gosden, is the 5-1 third favourite, based on a third to New Approach in the Dewhurst and a narrow defeat by Twice Over in last month's Craven Stakes.

In Sunday's 1,000 Guineas, the one-mile (1.6km) classic for fillies, French raider Natagora, is 7-2 favourite to land a second victory at Newmarket after winning last season's Cheveley Park Stakes.

Betting:

2,000 Guineas