The 2008 2,000 Guineas results are in. The season’s first classic, run on Saturday, produced an unexpected winner when Aidan O’Brien’s Henrythenavigtor defeated race favourite New Approach by the slimmest of margins.

New Approach’s defeat was yet another indication that entering the 2,000 Guineas as race favourite seems to doom a thoroughbred’s prospects in the race. The other favourites amongst punters faired little better, with Godolphin’s Ibn Khaldun drifting home in 10th place and John Gosden’s Raven’s Pass finishing in 5th place.

The win was O’Brien’s third in four years, and his fourth in his career, a tally that now equals that of his namesake, Vincent O’Brien. The Irish trainer will now head to the Irish 2,000 Guineas with his race winner, knowing that he has a true miler on his hands.

“He’s a proper high-class, fast-ground miler,” O’Brien said of his 2,000 Guineas winner. “He’s always shown us that at home, but when he got beaten last year it was on National Hunt ground. And after that we went easy on him, didn’t push him, so we’d have him for this year. And Johnny [Murtagh] played the horse to all his strengths.”

Don’t miss out on more top thoroughbred racing at the Irish 2,000 Guineas.