Hambleton trainer Bryan Smart has revealed Sir Xaar and Misu Bond to be in great shape and on course for the Stan James 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6.

Sir Xaar, a son of champion two-year-old Xaar, notched three wins in a busy two-year-old campaign that saw him run nine times.

He is available at 50-1 with the sponsors to win the colts' Classic.

Smart said: ''Sir Xaar looks super and has strengthened through the winter.

''He never stopped improving last year and is as far forward as I would like him at this moment.

''He's bred to get the trip - he's a half-brother to a couple of horses who have done well over a mile - but he wouldn't want it too soft as he's a quicker ground horse.

''He might get a prep run in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, but a lot will depend on the ground.''

Misu Bond, a 66-1 shot with Stan James, ran four times over six furlongs as a juvenile, supplementing a win on heavy ground at Doncaster with victory in the valuable totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar in October.

Smart added: ''Misu Bond has done really well over the winter.

''He's strengthened up and grown, and the work he has done so far I've been very happy with.

''I'm confident he'll get the mile trip at Newmarket. He's a relaxed sort who settles really well in his races.

''I'm confident I have two decent chances this year who are in great nick."

* Alan Swinbank's unbeaten Alfie Flits is firmly on course to run in the John Smith's Champion Bumper at Aintree on Grand National day.

The four-year-old has created a huge impression in the north this season with effortless wins at Wetherby, Southwell and Carlisle, the last of those coming under a double penalty.

Swinbank, fresh from saddling stable star Collier Hill to finish second in the Dubai Sheema Classic, is excited about the prospect of taking on the big guns.

''Aintree is the plan, we just want the ground to stop as it is really - good to soft,'' he said.

''We're hoping to campaign him on the Flat afterwards.

''I think he's got to run at Aintree because he's guaranteed a run whereas a lot of people will want to run and won't get in.

''I'm looking forward to running him immensely, he's a great horse.

''It would be difficult to compare him to Collier Hill at the same stage. He's won us over £1m so we all have a soft spot for him.

''There is a maiden at Hamilton about three weeks after Aintree that we have our eye on and then we'll work away from there and take it one step at a time.

''We are just looking forward to next Saturday at the minute with him.''