Red-hot favourite St Nicholas Abbey fluffed his lines as French raider Makfi ran out a shock winner of the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The Mikel Delzangles-trained Dubawi colt was sent off at 33-1 on the back of success in the Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte and was settled in the middle of the 19-runner field by Christophe Lemaire.

He made stealthy headway to take the lead passing the furlong marker and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to beat Dick Turpin by a length and a quarter, with Canford Cliffs half a length away in third.

Aidan O’Brien’s hitherto unbeaten St Nicholas Abbey - tagged the next wonder horse by many - never got in a serious blow and could only finish sixth.

Lemaire, who has a great record at Newmarket, said: “I’m very pleased, he won well last time but we were worried about his lack of experience.

“Today his condition had improved and he travelled well all the way. When I got the gap he really kicked. He has a very good turn of foot and is a top-class horse.

“I was not worried about the ground today, good horses go on any ground.” Tweet