Carson favours Aqaarid and Bahri

Willie Carson yesterday reluctantly rejected the ride on Dick Hern's Harayir in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday. The 52-year- old jockey has decided that he wants to be in the saddle on the John Dunlop- trained Aqaarid.

After days of deliberation Carson, finally plumped for the Sussex-trained filly instead of Harayir, who will be ridden by Richard Hills.

The news prompted bookmakers William Hill to cut Aqaarid's Guineas price from 11-4 to 9-4 while Harayir is now 100-30 (from 3-1). Ladbrokes reduced Aqaarid's odds to 5-2 from 3-1.

Angus Gold, racing manager for Hamdan Al Maktoum, who owns both horses, said: "It was a very difficult decision for Willie to make and I do not think that there was one clear factor to influence it." Gold added that Carson was likely to choose to ride Bahri in tomorrow's 2,000 Guineas rather than the Dunlop stablemate Nwaamis.

Yesterday's results, page 39