It is on the first Saturday in May each spring that the Kentucky Derby is invariably contested at Churchill Downs. Usually this coincides with the running earlier the same day of Newmarket's famed classic, the 2000 Guineas in England – but with "the first Saturday in May" falling this year as late as May 7th, Louisville's showpiece event will be run exactly a week after the Guineas.

So it is to that mile race for three-year-olds, and its counterpart for fillies, the 1000 Guineas on Sunday, May 1st, both sponsored by the Qatar-based QIPCO, that we turn our attention this week.

At the time of writing, 13 have accepted for the 2000 Guineas, which is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. BST on Saturday, April 30th. A heavy favourite at 8-15 is Prince Khalid Abdullah's unbeaten colt, Frankel (Galileo – Kind, by Danehill). The imposing bay, whom we had the pleasure of meeting at maestro Henry Cecil's yard last December, has started his season in copybook fashion by annexing the totesport.com Greenham Stakes at Newbury on April 16th and is now 5-for-5.

Cecil was bullish about his charge: "Frankel is very well, he did his final piece of work on Tuesday morning and I was delighted. He was lovely and relaxed in behind his lead horse and I'd be very surprised if he's not a better horse than at Newbury." On all known form, Frankel should be the proverbial certainty to bring the trophy home to Warren Place, a full 35 years after Wollow did so for Cecil. Tom Queally, who has partnered Frankel throughout his career, continues his association with the Juddmonte home-bred.

Of course, in a horse race anything can happen and there are as many as a dozen other three-year-old colts prepared to take on the champion. Logically, they are all running for the minor placings.

The beautifully-bred - and hitherto-unbeaten – Pathfork (Distorted Humor – Visions Of Clarity, by Sadler's Wells), trained for American owners at Commonstown Stables in Co. Kildare, Ireland, by Jessica Harrington, will surely be the most likely to make history should Frankel falter – it would be the first-ever win in the race for a lady trainer. He is a 5-1 shot and regular rider Fran Berry will be at the controls. Mrs. Harrington has no worries about the lack of a prep race, saying, "We're pleased with him since he came back in. The preparations have gone according to plan but we have to take on Frankel who has looked absolutely amazing in all his races."

After some hemming and hawing, Godolphin has confirmed the participation of Racing Post Trophy winner Casamento (Shamardal – Wedding Gift, by Always Fair) as a definite runner in the race. The once-beaten (a head defeat to Pathfork) colt, formerly with Michael Halford in Ireland, is now handled by Mahmood Al Zarooni and benefits from the services of Frankie Dettori in the saddle. The Irish-bred, currently quoted at 14 to 1, is thought to prefer a longer trip but is being allowed to take his chance.

Godolphin go into the race with a second string to their bow in the shape of the potential star Saamidd (Street Cry – Aryaamm, by Galileo), an inexplicable last-placed finish behind Frankel being the only blemish in his three-race career. Young Frenchman Mickael Barzalona will be astride Saeed bin Suroor's ward, who was as short as 7 to 1 for this race last September but is now available at 25 to 1.

Aidan O'Brien, successful five times in this event in the past 13 years, had initially left in Master Of Hounds but that son of Kingmambo was withdrawn and is expected to be routed to Kentucky instead. It is his other ward, Roderic O'Connor (Galileo – Secret Garden, by Danehill), runner-up to Frankel in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes last October, who will attempt to reverse that verdict here. Former champion jockey Ryan Moore is the likely rider of the 7 to 1 chance.

While the four challengers named above are attempting to tackle Frankel without a preparatory run this season, the Ed Dunlop-trained Native Khan (Azamour – Viva Maria, by Kendor) made a pleasing return in the other recognized classic trial in England this spring, the Breeze Up Vendors Craven Stakes over the same course and distance as the "2000" on April 14th. Ridden on that occasion by Kieren Fallon, he sports a new pilot here in Olivier Peslier (as Fallon is suspended for the moment) and will start around 12 to 1.

At a slightly longer price is the third undefeated member of the field, Cheveley Park Stud's Fury (Invincible Spirit – Courting, by Pursuit Of Love) who hails from the Somerville Lodge yard of William Haggas. His pair of victories came in races of a slightly lower level than his rivals have essayed – a maiden followed by the Tattersalls Millions 2yo Trophy. Johnny Murtagh will sport the "Red, White sash" silks of one of Britain's premier breeding operations.

The next afternoon, the QIPCO 1000 Guineas bears a very open look, with 23 fillies still engaged. The French have an excellent recent record, with 2 of the last 3 renewals seeing the trophy crossing the Channel. Freddie Head has sent over Moonlight Cloud (Invincible Spirit – Ventura, by Spectrum), winner of 3 of her 4 starts, most recently the informative classic trial, the Prix Imprudence at Maisons-Laffitte on April 7th. Stable rider Davy Bonilla will continue to steer George Strawbridge's homebred.

Although not seen in public for 212 days, Havant (Halling – Louella, by El Gran Senor) will not be lacking in fitness. After all, her trainer Sir Michael Stoute is a wizard at targeting the plums (last year he was able to win the Epsom Derby with Workforce at only his third start). Ryan Moore has been assigned the mount. The above-named pair is steady in the market at 9 to 2.

The highest rated runner is Sir Mark Prescott's Hooray (Invincible Spirit – Hypnotize, by Machiavellian), the mount of Seb Sanders. Winner of the Adnams Cheveley Park Stakes on the same track last October, she saw the form underlined when runner-up on that occasion, Rimth, came back and took the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury on April 16th. While Rimth is being held back for the Coronation Stakes, Hooray is at 15 to 2 here.

Memory (Danehill Dancer – Nausicaa, by Diesis) represents one of the many successful Highclere syndicates and is from the in-form stable of Richard Hannon. Barring her lapse in Ireland last year, she has scored at her other three appearances and one must excuse that loss. Well-known to Indian racegoers, Richard Hughes will be in the irons and she must go close at 5 to 1. The stable is quite confident and Hannon, Jr., representing the stable said: "She's done very well, she's thickened up a lot, all across her back. Her temperament is much better this year, she was a little bit wild last year and didn't always behave herself, but she's been impeccable this year. I would think she's the best chance we've ever had in the 1000 Guineas."

The beneficiary of Memory's lapse at the Curragh last August was Aidan O'Brien's Misty For Me (Galileo – Butterfly Cove, by Storm Cat), and you will hardly find a better-bred runner. Also, she was honoured as the Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in Europe after her victory in the Prix Marcel Boussac. She has had plenty of seasoning and seems certain to be in the shake-up. Odds of 7 to 1 are available.

Stablemate of Pathfork, the American-bred Laughing Lashes (Mr. Greeley – Adventure, by Unbridled's Song) has not come over from Ireland merely for the ride – she has a realistic chance, having beaten Misty For Me last year. She is the only other runner quoted in single digits, with 9 to 1 on offer.

Rank outsiders often triumph in this race and one which would have particular interest for the Indian racing public is the 20 to 1 Barefoot Lady (Footstepsinthesand – Lady Angharad, by Tenby), whose connections elected to supplement her for the race after her recent success in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket on April 13th. "We've decided to give it a shot," said her trainer, Richard Fahey, adding "She's in absolutely fantastic form at home - 100 per cent." What makes her special is that her dam is now resident at the Poonawalla Stud Farms!