Thunder Moon rockets to Guineas favouritism after decisive National Stakes win

Thunder Moon rocketed to the head of the Qipco 2,000 Guineas market with a thoroughly emphatic victory in the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained winner was taking a massive step up in grade after winning a maiden at the Curragh last month, but came through with flying colours under Declan McDonogh, albeit after overcoming an uncomfortable passage.

Once out in the open Thunder Moon found a lightning-sharp change of gear that sent him a length and a half clear of runner-up Wembley and straight to the top of the Guineas market.

Sky Bet and William Hill promoted the winner to 6-1 outright favourite (from 33) for the Newmarket Classic, while the majority of firms offer 8-1 alongside Battleground, who missed Sunday's race after he was found to be coughing, at the front of the market.

Victory capped a magical weekend for the winning trainer, who celebrated Classic success at Doncaster on Saturday with Galileo Chrome in the St Leger.

There was a delay at the start with the field left standing in the stalls as Masen was reversed out and trotted up for the vet after rearing in the gates. He was eventually passed fit to race but that was not the end of the drama as things became increasingly tight as the field bunched from halfway.

Both Thunder Moon and 2-1 joint-favourite Lucky Vega were among those left short of room behind the leaders, both having to sit and suffer as Master Of The Seas swept to the front under William Buick.

The gap eventually opened for Thunder Moon with less than a furlong to run but it proved ample time as he was switched to the far rail before claiming a memorable success.

Declan McDonogh with Thunder Moon after their National Stakes victoryCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"He quickened very well," said McDonogh. "I just got on heels when I was trying to angle out a little bit and had to bite the bullet and sit and suffer, but he showed great heart when he got a bit of room and always gave me the feel that he was going to run them down."

The winning rider added: "He's got a serious will to win – he just wanted to run by them. I'd say the ground was as slow as he wanted, fast ground would suit him really well. He's a strong traveller and seemed like he was in third gear the whole way. It's lovely to get a Group 1."

While the gap came in time for Thunder Moon, Lucky Vega was not so fortunate and appeared to suffer most interference among the ten runners. An impressive winner of the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes last time, he kept on well inside the final furlong once in the clear to finish a never-nearer fifth.

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