Petrushka shortens

Petrushka's position at the head of the betting for the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas continues to strengthen following further support yesterday.

William Hill cut Sir Michael Stoute's filly to 5 to 4 from 11 to 8 in line with Ladbrokes and Coral.

However, Alan Bailey has warned punters not to ignore his outsider Agrippina in Sunday's Classic.

He is full of hope that the filly "will finish in the first three" at Newmarket, where she will be his first runner in a Classic after 20 years as a trainer.

Agrippina is quoted at 40 to 1 for the race by Ladbrokes, despite her defeat of leading fancy High Walden in a listed race at Newmarket last October.

"If we are an outsider then High Walden should be too as there was no horse in that race that had an excuse," Bailey said.

"I'd hope that Agrippina will finish in the first three on Sunday. She has got a turn of foot and there aren't many of the three-year-old fillies that we have seen who have got one, other than the favourite Petrushka."

Bailey is not worried that his stable-star is without a race this year.

"She had a bit of a niggle before the Fred Darling so we couldn't run her but she is A1 now," the trainer said.

"She worked this morning and went very well."

Riding plans are also yet to be finalised for Kalypso Katie in the same race.

"There's no decision about a jockey for her," trainer Jeremy Noseda said. "I have a jockey in mind for her but I want to see what the weather does. It's drying out at the moment and she wants good or softer ground. She wouldn't run on fast ground."

In the 2,000 Guineas Richard Hannon is still searching for a jockey to ride Mana-Mou Bay on Saturday.

He said: "We are working on it and we'll make a decision later in the week."

And it is a similar story for David Elsworth, who is looking for a rider for Scarteen Fox.

He said: "I had hoped Richard Quinn would ride but it now appears he might have to ride one of Henry Cecil's.

"We'll wait and see but if I can't find a suitable jockey we'll wait for the Irish 2000 Guineas."

1,000 Guineas betting: William Hill: 5-4 Petrushka (from 11-8), 7-2 Bintalreef, 7-1 Amethyst, 8-1 High Walden, 12-1 Seazun, 14-1 Teggiano, 25-1 bar.

Coral: 5-4 Petrushka, 4-1 Bintalreef, 7-1 Amethyst, 10-1 High Walden, 14-1 Teggiano, Seazun, 20-1 bar.

Ladbrokes: 5-4 Petrushka, 7-2 Bintalreef, 7-1 Amethyst, 10-1 High Walden, 12-1 Seazun, 16-1 Teggiano, 20-1 bar.

2,000 Guineas betting: William Hill: 3-1 Distant Music, 4-1 Giant's Causeway, 8-1 King's Best, 9-1 Barathea Guest, 12-1 Cape Town, Misraah, 16-1 Bernstein, Fath, Mana-Mou Bay, 20-1 bar.

Coral: 3-1 Distant Music, 7-2 Giant's Causeway, 7-1 King's Best, 9-1 Barathea Guest, 10-1 Cape Town, 11-1 Misraah, 12-1 Fath, Bernstein, 14-1 Mana-Mou Bay, 16-1 Umistim, 20-1 bar.

Ladbrokes: 7-2 Giant's Causeway, Distant Music, 8-1 King's Best, 9-1 Barathea Guest, 101 Cape Town, 12-1 Misraah, 16-1 Bernstein, Fath, 20-1 bar.