You know that Thoroughbred horse racing is entering a serious phase after the winter hiatus when the first weekend in May rolls around. It's a couple of days replete with action, with two English classics and the first leg of the American Triple Crown down for decision.

This piece will cast the spotlight on the first of the English classics, the Gr.1 Qipco 2000 Guineas (1 mile), due off at 3:45 p.m. BST on Saturday, May 2^nd (8:15 p.m. in India) – there will be a separate preview for the "Run For The Roses" in the USA which is to be run about 8 hours later.

It's expected that the weather on the day will be partly cloudy but nippy at around 15 degrees C, and the ground conditions, which often affect performances in European racing, will provide for a fair contest.

Speaking of fair contests, there is one important change: last year, the Guineas run on the straight Rowley Mile at Newmarket saw a controversial finish as Night Of Thunder benefitted from the manner in which the field split into two halves, which enabled him to surprise Kingman and Australia, both of which were shown to be his superior by subsequent events. This year, the starting stalls are being re-positioned from the centre of the track to the stands side, and midway through the race, the rails will be cut away to provide an additional 3 metres of width for the racing strip.

Nineteen have been declared, although Elm Park (by Phoenix Reach) is unlikely to start unless it rains. As has become almost customary, Ireland's Aidan O'Brien provides some of the better fancied runners. This time he has pitched in Gleneagles (by Galileo), with former champion Ryan Moore aboard, and Ol' Man River (by Montjeu), to ride which the trainer's son Joseph has been vigorously working out to be able to make the 9-0 stone (57 kgs.) assignment. Both are superbly bred, as the former is out of an own-sister to Giant's Causeway and the latter is the son of a dual 1000 Guineas winner in Finsceal Beo.

Neither has been seen out in 2015 but this is no handicap as top conditioners in Europe have time and again proved. Gleneagles, who has shortened to 5 to 2, is recorded as being the winner of 4 of his 6 races, having been disqualified from the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere under the unambiguous rules prevalent in France. He has been pleasing in his preparation and the hero of the Group 1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes last year has every chance. His 11 to 2 stablemate Ol' Man River is less experienced, being unbeaten from both his starts, which include a Group 2 victory in the Beresford Stakes. But then he has the greater scope of improvement.

Two horses have been supplemented at a cost of £30,000 each, so both must surely hold a chance. These are Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum's 10 to 1 shot Intilaaq (by Dynaformer), from the Newmarket yard of trainer Roger Varian, and Godolphin's Territories (by Invincible Spirit), an inmate of the Chantilly barn of veteran Andre Fabre and currently trading as the third favourite at 6 to 1.

Intilaaq, who scored a facile eight-lengths victory on his only effort this term, has since sparkled in his workouts and will have Dane O'Neill in the saddle, retained jockey Paul Hanagan being claimed for the same owner's better-fancied 7 to 1 chance Estidhkaar (by Dark Angel) from the Marlborough stables of Richard Hannon, Jr. Territories was ultra-impressive in his lung-opener, the Prix Fontainebleau at Longchamp with Mickael Barzalona up and the same rider retains the mount here.

While the trials in England were somewhat inconclusive, Richard Hughes – in his final season as a rider – feels that Ivawood (by Zebedee), the second of four runners from his brother-in-law Richard Hannon, Jr.'s establishment, will come on a lot for his tame third last month in the AON Greenham Stakes at Newbury. The question is whether the horse's sire has the class to beget a Guineas winner.

Al Shaqab Racing had the mortification of finding The Wow Signal lame after a workout on Wednesday and so will be represented only by the lightly-raced Moheet (by High Chaparral), third in the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes a couple of weeks ago, and Frankie Dettori will ride for Hannon, Jr. It's been 16 years since the former champion jockey last tasted success in the first Classic of the year and that was achieved in 1999 through the medium of Island Sands. Interestingly, Moheet is quoted at the same 25 to 1 price as his stablemate and conqueror (by just over three lengths) in the Craven, the front-running white-faced Kool Kompany (by Jeremy), partnered here by Pat Dobbs.

One other runner needs to be mentioned. When Freddie Head sends a runner across the Channel, one can expect it to acquit itself with honour. Ride Like The Wind (by Lope de Vega) will have to run like the wind to beat some of the aforementioned participants but should be amongst the fittest, what with two runs under his belt this season. 33  to 1 looks a generous price for the Maxime Guyon-ridden hero of the Prix Djebel a month ago.

Any of the remaining nine could theoretically win, but it will require a display of extraordinary improvement for any of them to be able to bridge the form chasm that exists.

In the final analysis, it looks like one of the overseas raiders will prevail in what is shaping to be a rather open race. Ireland or France, take your pick!