The Stan James Guineas Festival, which was sponsored by one of Britain’s leading independent bookmakers for the first time in 2006, features the first two Classics of the British flat racing season on Newmarket’s NatWest Rowley Mile Racecourse on Saturday 5^th and Sunday 6^th May.  This year's Festival carries carries over £1.15m in prize money across its fourteen races, with each Guineas worth a record £350,000. 

The NatWest Rowley Mile is arguably the most historic major sporting venue in the world today.  Named after Old Rowley, a nickname given both to Charles II and his faithful hack, the Rowley Mile has hosted flat racing for three and a half centuries.   The unique, straight Rowley Mile course is largely unchanged since that time – just the stands are new – and it is on this hallowed turf that the latest champions will emerge at this year’s Stan James Guineas Festival. 

Cockney Rebel stormed to surprise 25-1 victory in the 2000 Guineas in the Flat season's first Classic at Newmarket.

Early pacesetter Vital Equine was second and Dutch Art came in third with Duke of Marmalade coming in fourth in the 24 colt race.

Craven Stakes winner Adagio heads 24 horses in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday after the withdrawal of ante-post favourite Teofilo.

Adagio, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, is followed in the market by the French contender US Ranger.

Teofilo was pulled out of the Flat season's first Classic on Thursday after a knee problem flared up.

Kevin Prendergast's Haatef now appears to be the leading Irish hopeful in the one-mile contest.

Teofilo's absence was the latest blow for ante-post punters.

Second favourite Holy Roman Emperor was withdrawn in March when he was retired so he could replace another Aidan O'Brien-trained horse, the 2006 winner George Washington, at stud.

George Washington suffered fertility problems during his breeding duties and is returning to the track, with a return at Royal Ascot in June mooted.

Teofilo's Irish trainer Jim Bolger pinpointed Adagio and Greenham Stakes winner Major Cadeaux as dangers when asked about rivals before his horse's withdrawal.

"I was very impressed by the Greenham winner at Newbury," he told BBC Sport.

"I thought he was very positive, and he was obviously very well trained on the day and could be a formidable opponent for any horse if he strips a little fitter and is well on 2000 Guineas day. "

US Ranger has been well supported in recent weeks after being supplemented for the race at a cost of £25,000.

Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien has won the race three times in the last five years - with George Washington (2006), Footstepsinthesand (2005) and Rock of Gibraltar (2002).

He has three declared this time - Duke of Marmalade, Eagle Mountain and Yellowstone.

Those looking forward to seeing last year's champion two-year-old Teofilo defend his reputation in tomorrow's Stan James 2,000 Guineas suffered a disappointment yesterday, when Jim Bolger ruled the colt out of the race following the recurrence of a niggling injury. Adagio is the new 3-1 favourite with the sponsors.

Teofilo, favourite for the race since winning the Dewhurst Stakes last October, was being sportingly aimed at the Triple Crown (Guineas, Derby and St Leger) by Bolger - the first horse for years.

However, his absence from the field of 24 was probably not the biggest surprise of all time. His Guineas preparation had already been interrupted and restricted to swimming for a fortnight last month by some heat behind his off-fore knee and the trainer's biggest worry, that it might recur, became a reality yesterday morning, two-and-a-half hours after the horse had pleased him in his final five-furlong blow out.

Apart from the hole his defection will have burned in the pockets of ante-post punters - he was as short as 5-4 when it was announced Holy Roman Emperor had been retired to stud - nobody will be feeling the blow greater than the trainer, who also owned and bred the Galileo colt and genuinely believed he was in possession of a horse which was out of the ordinary.

In a statement he said: "Teofilo had a blow out on Thursday morning at 6.30 and moved with his usual fluency. He gave every indication he was fit and ready to run. Unfortunately, at 9.00 there was excessive heat and some soreness at the back of his off-fore knee when palpated. After discussions with my senior staff, I have decided that it would not be prudent to run in the 2,000 Guineas."

He continued: "We must now accept that a cautious approach is the correct way to go, as more serious damage could be done if subjected to a race at this time. A further press release on his condition will be issued in two weeks."

The precise nature of the injury has not been revealed and vets may not even be sure what the problem is, although the trainer believes it was originally caused by an over-extension. It could range from a soft tissue to a bone injury and the check ligament is also in the same area. There is no suggestion that it is anything to do with the ligament but were it damaged it could be tricky to get right.

It means, however, this year's 2,000 Guineas suddenly has a more open look about it and the trials have, retrospectively, taken on greater importance.

Adagio, the Craven winner, is now favourite to give Sir Michael Stoute his sixth win in the race and has been drawn three. With the stalls set to be placed in the middle of the course, the field are quite likely to split into two groups. Next to Adagio is Diamond Tycoon (stall 2), who made all to win impressively at Newbury and should ensure a good gallop on their side. The all-the-way Greenham winner Major Cadeaux (7) is also nearby.

On the other side, Haatef, Kevin Prendergast's fancied runner, has drawn 17, a winning stall twice in the last decade. He is surrounded by Dutch Art (18), Michael Tabor's French raider US Ranger (16) and Strategic Prince (14).

Bolger's air tickets will not, however, be wasted. He now relies on the favourite Finsceal Beo in Sunday's 1,000 Guineas.

Hot favourite Teofilo has been ruled out of Saturday's 2000 Guineas at Newmarket after suffering a setback.

Last season's champion two-year-old, trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger, was found to be sore at the back of a knee.

The Galileo colt won all his five starts in 2006, including the Group One National Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

He was 2-1 favourite to begin his pursuit of Triple Crown glory with victory in the season's first Classic.

Bolger said the horse had a gallop at 0630 BST on Thursday, and moved with his usual fluency, but an old knee problem flared up later.

"My staff and I have made every effort to have Teofilo fit and well for the first Classic of 2007," he said.

"But we must now accept that a cautious approach is the correct way to go as more serious damage could be done if subjected to a race at this time.

The County Carlow trainer had hoped Teofilo might become the first horse since the great Nijinsky in 1970 to land the treble of 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and St Leger.

His absence marks the latest blow for ante-post punters ahead of this year's 2000 Guineas.

Sir Michael Stoute's Craven Stakes winner Adagio is now 3-1 favourite for the race with sponsors Stan James.

Teofilo was named by Bolger after the famous Cuban Olympic boxer Teofilo Stevenson as the trainer felt he showed similar battling qualities.

But the horse had drifted alarmingly in the betting 10 days ago, before Bolger said he had recovered from the knee problem.

Before that, Guineas second favourite Holy Roman Emperor was retired to stud so he could replace the 2006 winner George Washington, who had fertility problems.

George Washington, trained by Aidan O'Brien at his Ballydoyle yard in Tipperary, will return to racing and is set to run at Royal Ascot in June.

Meanwhile, Bolger will seek consolation on Sunday in the 1000 Guineas for fillies with favourite Finsceal Beo.

He said an update on Teofilo's injury would be issued within a fortnight.

French contender US Ranger has been supplemented for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket at a cost of £25,000.

The Michael Tabor-owned colt is 6-1 for Saturday's race with sponsors Stan James after a sustained gamble.

Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, US Ranger is unbeaten in four races and won very well at Maisons-Laffitte earlier in April.

He was one of 30 runners, including Jim Bolger's favourite Teofilo, confirmed for the Classic at the five-day stage.

All the leading fancies remain involved, including Sir Michael Stoute's Craven Stakes winner Adagio, Strategic Prince, impressive Newbury maiden winner Diamond Tycoon and Greenham Stakes first and second Major Cadeaux and Dutch Art.

Aidan O'Brien still has the choice of running Duke Of Marmalade, Eagle Mountain, Mount Nelson and Yellowstone to take the race for a third year in a row.

Bolger is eyeing a Classic double as he saddles 1,000 Guineas favourite Finsceal Beo in the fillies' contest on Sunday.

Irish trainer Jim Bolger has "no worries" over favourite Teofilo ahead of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The unbeaten Galileo colt had been restricted to walking and swimming for a week after a "training setback."

But Bolger issued a positive bulletin on Monday after the horse enjoyed his first trot since the disruption.

"There are no worries whatsoever," said Bolger when asked about the horse's prospects of lining up for the one-mile colts' Classic on 5 May.

Bolger boasts a leading hand in the opening Classics of the season, and also reported on the wellbeing of his 1000 Guineas favourite Finsceal Beo.

Speculation surrounding Teofilo a week ago saw his price drift on the betting exchanges and several bookmakers also suspended betting on the race.

Sponsors Stan James reopened their market, and the horse is 11-4 favourite.

Having looked at the trials in England last week "with curiosity", Bolger said he was very impressed with Greenham Stakes winner Major Cadeaux.

But following the flop of Sander Camillo, he suspects the principal opposition to Finsceal Beo (7-4) in the fillies' race will come from Irish-trained rivals.

He expects Teofilo to canter on Wednesday, work at half-speed the following day and then work at the weekend.

The three-year-old will have another workout next Tuesday, before flying to England.