SIR PERCY SET FOR STAN JAMES 2000 GUINEAS RETURN

Sir Percy, who finished his two-year-old campaign unbeaten after four starts, is reported in "great form" and, according to trainer Marcus Tregoning, on course to reappear in the £330,000 Stan James 2000 Guineas at the NatWest Rowley Mile on Saturday, May 6, the first Classic of the 2006 Flat season.

The Mark Of Esteem colt maintained his 100 percent record with a neck defeat of Horatio Nelson in the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes on the NatWest Rowley Mile in October, and will hopefully kick off his three-year-old career in the mile Classic, for which he is currently an 11/1 chance with Stan James.

Trainer Marcus Tregoning revealed today: "The plan is to head straight to the Stan James 2000 Guineas with Sir Percy. He won't have a prep run - he's had four runs and won all of them, so he doesn't need any more experience, and I think it would be wrong to run him beforehand.

"He's had a good winter and physically has done very well. He's filled out his frame and appears like he should be running over a mile first time - he looks superb and is in very good order at present.

"Sir Percy is versatile as regards ground and has also had a run at Newmarket, which I think is an advantage, as we know he acts on the course. He has not done any serious work yet - it's still too early for that - but we'll start to step things up in about a month's time."

The Vodafone Derby could also be on the agenda for Sir Percy, with Tregoning remaining hopeful that his charge has the necessary stamina for the mile and a half trip at Epsom.

"I'm sure we're safe on the mile front and I think he'll stay a mile and a quarter. Sometimes the real classy ones get that bit further - I was with Dick Hern when we had Nashwan win the 2000 Guineas and the Derby in 1989 - but only time will tell what Sir Percy's best trip will be. It's full speed ahead to the Stan James 2000 Guineas now and all being well he'll be there on the day to take his chance."

Latest Stan James prices for the Stan James 2000 Guineas:

George Washington 3/1
Horatio Nelson 7/1
Sir Percy 11/1
Amadeus Wolf 14/1
Art Museum 18/1
Pescatorio 22/1
City Of Troy 25/1
With Interest 25/1
Nakheel 25/1
Blue Mirage 25/1
Marcus Andronicus 33/1
Opera Cape 33/1
Arminius 33/1
Book Of Music 33/1
Art Deco 33/1
Morghim 33/1
Winged Cupid 33/1
Golden Arrow 33/1
Dickensian 33/1
Primary 33/1
Ivan Denisovich 40/1
To Sender 40/1
Jeu De Mot 40/1
Shaftesbury Avenue 40/1
El Fuego 40/1
Heatseeker 40/1
Stepping Up 40/1
Narvik 40/1
Leo 40/1
Blue Ksar 40/1
Rampallion 40/1
Hurricane Cat 40/1
Frost Giant 40/1
Northern Empire 40/1
Aussie Rules 50/1
Dylan Thomas 50/1
Sir Xaar 50/1
Regal Royale 50/1
Araafa 50/1
Emirates Skyline 50/1
King Johannes 50/1
Extreme Measures 50/1
Palace Episode 50/1
Atlantic Waves 50/1
Always Hopeful 50/1
Multiplex 50/1
Giganticus 50/1
True Cause 50/1
Killybegs 50/1
Kilworth 50/1
Close To You 50/1
Final Verse 50/1
Silent Times 50/1
Red Clubs 66/1
Prince Of Light 66/1
Misu Bond 66/1
Advanced 100/1
Biggin Hill 100/1

The Stan James Guineas Festival takes place on the NatWest Rowley Mile course at Newmarket on Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7. Both the Stan James 1000 Guineas and the Stan James 2000 Guineas are worth a record £330,000 in 2006.