NEWMARKET (ROWLEY) 15:50

All 14 ran.

Time: 1m 36.61s

Overrounds: Industry SP 124%, Betfair SP 101.3%

In terms of strength in depth this looked beforehand about as good as it's got in a 2000 Guineas in recent seasons, bringing together a whole host of 2013's highest-rated juveniles, among them run-away Coventry winner War Command, Vintage and National Stakes winner Toormore, Racing Post Trophy winner Kingston Hill, Kingman, who'd put up the best pre-Guineas performance in the Greenham, and the highly-touted Australia for Ballydoyle, not to mention another Group-1 winning 2yo in Godolphin's Breeders' Cup Turf winner Outstrip; it duly proved to be a competitive race but a few of those named did disappoint and the winner came from elsewhere in the shape of 40/1-shot Night of Thunder, who achieved a rating close to standard for a 2000 Guineas but no higher, which is a little surprising in a year that looked potentially very strong; one of the key features of the race was that the field soon split into two groups, 6 of them far side and 8 stand side, but Noozhoh Canaries and Toormore ensured a good pace on both sides of the track and there wasn't an advantage either way in that regard, the race fairly even all round in fact, although there is a case for saying both Kingman and Australia were asked to make their race-winning efforts sooner than ideal in relation to the winner.

NIGHT OF THUNDER (IRE) had looked some way inferior to Kingman in the Greenham but caused an upset by turning the tables 3 weeks on, the run clearly having brought him on plenty, whilst the extra 1f made a big difference as well, relishing the uphill finish, and it was a good ride from Fallon to bring him onto the scene later than either Kingman or Australia in what was a well-run race; he was held up towards the far side and didn't make up significant ground until after 2f out, staying on strongly to lead close home even though veering left across the track well inside the final 1f, not seeming to lose much forward momentum despite that; he's not flattered by this, evidently a high-class miler, likely to stay further in fact (out of a Galileo mare and strong at the line here), but the suspicion is that he won't end the season rated the highest of this field and it would be no surprise to see Kingman get the better of him should they meet again, especially in a race that placed more emphasis on speed; this was a significant classic win for trainer Richard Hannon, incidentally, who only recently took over the license from his father.

KINGMAN was a strong favourite after such an impressive win in the Greenham 3 weeks earlier and it's a shock that he's been beaten by one that he saw off so comfortably that day, the 1f longer trip not so much in Kingman's favour as it was Night of Thunder, hard to argue that he didn't stay, but he is a horse with a lot of speed and a good burst of acceleration, both of which were in evidence once again, carrying him to the front just inside the final 1f after he'd travelled powerfully in rear on the far side, but he couldn't sustain the charge on the uphill climb to the line, headed late on, and maybe if he'd have been held on to for a bit longer then his turn of foot would have been more potent on the day; an easier, flatter 1m than this is likely to be ideal for Kingman, too, and this defeat shouldn't detract from what has been an exceptionally promising start to his career, which is still only 4 races in, and it's absolutely the case that he remains a top-class colt in the making, surely only a matter of time before he puts the record straight and wins a Group 1.

AUSTRALIA came into this race with a huge reputation, exceeding his actual achievements on the track last year, for all that he progressed well in 3 juvenile runs, but, as a rangy son of Galileo and multiple Group 1 winning race mare Ouija Board, the likelihood was always that he'd continue his improvement well into this 3-y-o campaign and to finish a close-third in a 2000 Guineas on his first start back is most promising, possessing the speed to compete even though everything about him points to middle distances suiting better, and he is an exciting prospect for the season; he was soon in touch towards the stand side, not getting much cover but nicely settled, travelling well, and he quickened to edge ahead approaching the final 1f (briefly overall leader), keeping on to assert from those he raced with throughout even though headed by a couple from the far group, both of whom made their efforts slightly later and from further back (possibly did too much too soon); his price for the Derby was cut across the board, into a top-priced 7/4, which looks tight enough with most of the recognised trials just around the corner, but there's no doubt Australia has strong credentials for the Epsom classic and, whether it's that race or not, he looks a Group 1 winner in waiting.

SHIFTING POWER had been overlooked to a large extent in the build up, sent off 50/1, but he'd not been beaten in 3 previous starts and ran a massive race to hit the frame up markedly in grade, suited by the extra 1f and shaping as if he'll stay beyond 1m, which gives more options later on; raced stand side and was always prominent, challenged over 1f out,stuck to task for all that he couldn't quite live with a trio that are all likely to show themselves high class performers at the least; his stable tend to place their horses very well and there are pattern races to be won with Shifting Power this season.

CHARM SPIRIT (IRE) looked worth trying over 1m again and, even though giving the impression he's a slightly edgy sort (sweating in the preliminaries and went quite keenly), he proved that he stays this far, beaten on merit but running well, producing his best form rating to date; raced far side, chased leader, ridden over 2f out, kept on, no match for principals; there are no flops on his record to date and he'll continue to give a good account.

NOOZHOH CANARIAS (SPA) is a very enthusiastic type and failed to stay trying 1m for the first time, underlined by a final 1f sectional that was slower than all bar the last 3 finishers, but he certainly shaped well with a view to going back down in trip, sprinting well worth another try, or perhaps a crack at the Jersey Stakes over 7f at Royal Ascot, and there's a bigger performance in his locker before this 3-y-o season is out; he headed the group that raced far side, going with lots of zest, and was the overall leader much of the way, headed on his side by Kingman just inside the final 1f and then weakening on the uphill climb to the line.

TOORMORE (IRE) has proven himself a very smart colt with his National Stakes and Craven wins, his timefigure in the latter more or less backing up the performance, and a below-par effort might be down to him finding this coming sooner than ideal after that reappearance, given a lot more time between all previous races (46 days from the Vintage Stakes to the National Stakes was quickest turnaround last year); he led the group stand side, initially just with Outstrip before others soon followed, but was headed over 1f out and weakened inside the final 1f; there's time for him to be freshened up ahead of Royal Ascot, potentially a big positive, and it won't be surprising to see him fare better in the St James's Palace Stakes than he did here.

KINGSTON HILL appreciated 1m on much more testing ground than this when successful in the Racing Post Trophy 6 months earlier and wasn't disgraced in a race that placed the emphasis more on speed than ideal for him; switched from low draw to race stand side and was in rear, pushed along over 2f out, kept on but never a threat; it could just be that he falls a little short in Group 1 company as a 3-y-o, his Racing Post Trophy win having taken several knocks since which tempers enthusiasm, but that won't be conclusive until he's been tried over middle distances, which will definitely suit, and it'll be rather disappointing if he's unable to at least make a bigger impact in the Derby than he did this day.

WAR COMMAND (USA) won three prestigious 2-y-o races, the Coventry, Futurity and Dewhurst, and, although the form of those races isn't tough to knock in hindsight, he is better than he showed on this reappearance, not having a major excuse, never landing a blow, but once held he wasn't knocked about.

THE GREY GATSBY (IRE) predictably found it tough going at this level but ran respectably and it's not out of the question that he improves some more this season when eased in class, mindful of comments made last time about him having strengthened up; raced far side, chased leaders, driven 2f out, faded.

BOOKRUNNER (USA) was unable to cause a shock like Makfi did for the same stable in 2010, not up to the task, but the big-race experience should aid his development and, a rangy sort, there may be better to come somewhere down the line; raced far side, mid-division, effort 2f out, one paced; he'll probably stay beyond 1m.

MASTER THE WORLD (IRE) was flying much too high in this grade; soon switched to race in stand-side group, held up, struggling 2f out and was soon eased off.

ERTIJAAL (IRE) probably just isn't Group 1 calibre but didn't get home over this 1f longer trip, racing too freely towards the stand side, hanging left as he weakened over 1f out; he'll prove best at short of 1m, worth another try at sprint trips rather than over this far again.

OUTSTRIP a smart, Group-1 winning juvenile, lacks size and scope, possibly not the sort to train on, but amiss on this return from 6 months off (reportedly scoped badly post race); raced stand side, in touch, folded after 2f out.