JOHNNY Murtagh does not often get it wrong but he might just have slipped up in picking Rip Van Winkle in the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas.

Back in 2002, everyone sided with favourite Hawk Wing in the first Classic of the season and they had to sit and suffer as the perceived lesser light, Rock Of Gibraltar, triumphed in style.

Murtagh may face a similar situation as Mastercraftsman, the horse he passed over, holds an outstanding chance of Guineas glory this year.

A dual Group One winner as a juvenile, claiming both the Phoenix and National Stakes after also notching victories on his first two starts, his only defeat came behind Naaqoos at Longchamp on his final start of the year, when he was slow to break and never really looked himself in finishing fourth.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien thought it may have been one run too many for the Danehill Dancer colt, but he has had a winter break and should be a different proposition here.

Although it is a negative Murtagh has opted for his stablemate, people do make mistakes and Pat Smullen looks like being the main beneficiary of Murtagh’s misjudgement.

Moorhouse Lad can atone for a lacklustre run in Hong Kong at the end of last year with victory in the stanjames.

com Palace House Stakes.

Bryan Smart’s runner looks an out-and-out five-furlong horse so the extra furlong at Sha Tin probably accounts for his eighth-place finish in Group One company.

Dropping back in class and trip here, he can return to the kind of form that saw him triumph at Newbury last season and finish second in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

Spanish Moon was only beaten a nose in the Dubai Sheema Classic and the stanjames.

com Jockey Club Stakes looks an ideal opportunity to break his Group-race duck.

Perfect Star can reverse recent all-weather form with Born Tobouggie in the Listed EBF Conqueror Stakes at Goodwood.

The pair clashed off level weights at Kempton three weeks ago, with Born Tobouggie coming home twoand- a-half lengths to the good.

Perfect Star was no match for the winner, but she was staying on at the end of her first outing in 237 days.

She is sure to have come on for that run and, having proved good enough to win in Listed company at Ascot last year, Clive Cox’s filly should be able to exploit her 3lb advantage this time.

The competitive totesport.

com Thirsk Hunt Cup is the pick at the North Yorkshire venue and Charlie Tipple is primed for a good performance, while War Native is the choice in the Doncaster Free Press Tony Freeman Conditions Stakes on Town Moor.

Useful dual-purpose performer The Package is the choice in Uttoxeter’s totetrifecta Handicap Hurdle, while Great Approach can defy top weight in the Arup Handicap Hurdle at Hexham.

Serious Attitude showed a tremendous level of form as a juvenile and can upset hot favourite Rainbow View in tomorrow’s stanjames.com 1000 Guineas.