CONNECTIONS of Wiltshire-trained horse Toormore are hoping the results of the tracheal wash taken on Tuesday morning from their beaten 2000 Guineas candidate come back clean.

Middleham Park Racing expect to hear from Everleigh trainer Richard Hannon on Wednesday but Tim Palin, racing manager for the syndicate, hopes it is case of the Classic coming too soon after his win in the Craven Stakes rather than the colt being under the weather.

"We could just be the seventh best in the race as we beat the horses we beat last year, like Outstrip," said Palin.

"It could just be that we were the best of an ordinary bunch last year but because we were third favourite, finishing seventh feels like a disappointment.

"Looking more closely at it, I think it is more down to the fact that he ran a very fast time in winning the Craven just 16 days before.

"Richard Hughes always said he wasn't the archetypal Richard Hannon horse and that he was a late-maturer. Maybe he didn't improve for his first run and he's gone backwards.

"Last year he always had plenty of time between runs. It might not be a coincidence that the Craven has only produced one Guineas winner in the last 11 years. It might not be a long enough gap at that level.

"He was never in the Irish Guineas as I sort of saw this coming, I didn't want the temptation. He was only in the French Guineas in case he trod on a stone or something.

"The options now are simple. If he was just a little bit tired, we'll freshen him up for the St James's Palace or go for the Prix Jean Prat which is 30 days later still.

"It's one or the other, we'll wait and see what happens in Ireland and France.

"I'd rather he was just a bit tired than find something on him if I'm honest."

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