Sri Pekan and Jural drop out of the Guineas

Sri Pekan and Jural were the most notable, though not unexpected, absentees when the five-day acceptors were yesterday announced for Newmarket's Classic races this weekend.

Sri Pekan, a 13-2 chance for Saturday's 2,000 Guineas, succumbed to the pulled muscle he suffered in exercise last Friday.

"He is sound, but we didn't want to risk him on Saturday," Sri Pekan's trainer, Paul Cole, said. Cole may still be represented in the 2,000 by Green Perfume or Montjoy.

The Andr Fabre-trained Diffident, has also been declared for Saturday's Palace House Stakes over five furlongs, but definitely runs in the Classic according to a spokeswoman for Anthony Stroud, Sheikh Mohammed's racing manager.

Jural's absence from Sunday's 1,000 Guineas was confirmed by her trainer, Mark Johnston, after the filly disappointed in a morning gallop. "She was clearly not right and was quite distressed at the end," he said.

Brett Doyle will have his first ride in a Classic when he partners Autumn Affair for Clive Brittain in the 1,000. Brittain's Musetta and the Irish- trained Ridgewood Pearl will run only if there is cut in the ground.

ACCEPTORS: 2,000 Guineas: Bahri (trained J Dunlop), Celtic Swing (Lady Herries), Chilly Billy (Mrs L Ramsden), Diffident (A Fabre, Fr), Green Perfume (P Cole), Montjoy (P Cole), Nwaamis (J Dunlop), Painter's Row (P Chap

ple-Hyam), Pennekamp (A Fabre, Fr), Pipe Major (P Haslam), Silca Blanka (M Channon), Vettori (S bin Suroor, UAE), Zeb (B McMahon).

1,000 Guineas: All Time Great (L Cumani), Aqaarid (J Dunlop), Autumn Affair (C Brittain), Brief Glimpse (D Chappell), Bring On The Choir (R Boss), Deceive (S bin Suroor, UAE), Epagris (H Cecil), Fleet Hill (M Channon), Gay Gallanta (M Stoute), Harayir (W R Hern), Hoh Magic (M Bell), Macoumba (Mrs C Head, France), Menas Gold (S Dow), Moonshell (S bin Suroor, Dubai), Musetta (C Brittain), Myself (P Chapple-Hyam), Poppy Carew (P Harris), Queenfisher (R Hannon), Ridgewood Pearl (J Oxx, Irl).