George Scott has high hopes for James Garfield

James Garfield has options in this year’s QIPCO British Champions Series. Picture: Racingfotos.com

George Scott is to give James Garfield his first run of the season in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on April 21 before deciding which route to take with his stable flagbearer.

The QIPCO 2000 Guineas, which is the first race of this year’s Champions Series atNewmarket on May 5, and the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on June 23 are among the options for the son of Exceed And Excel colt, who won the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury in September.

It’s the biggest success of young trainer @georgeoscott‘s career as James Garfield wins the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at @NewburyRacing pic.twitter.com/M0l5ZSiJZY

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) September 23, 2017

“He’ll start back at Newbury in the Greenham. It’s really exciting,” Scott told At The Races. “It will leave both doors open whether we go for the Guineas or back in trip for the Commonwealth Cup.

“It might be he runs in the Guineas anyway and then the Commonwealth Cup with that break, but he’s wintered really well and strengthened up. He’s put on 40 kilos. He’s just a very straightforward horse and a very good one.

“He won well over six in the Mill Reef and also saw out the seven in the Acomb pretty well. We’ll keep an open mind, but he seems to me a very fast horse and I would imagine he’d go sprinting.”

James Garfield is a general 40-1 for the 2000 Guineas and Stan James quote him at 16-1 for the Commonwealth Cup.