THE ONE-TIME 2,000 Guineas favourite Myboycharlie looks set to miss out on the Newmarket classic in favour of an attempt at the Irish Guineas towards the end of May.

Tommy Stack's Prix Morny winner missed some work last week, a setback that means the Danetime colt will probably get his classic opportunity at the Curragh rather than Newmarket.

"At this stage he will either go straight to Newmarket or run instead in the Tetrarch Stakes before running in the Irish Guineas," Stack's son and assistant, Fozzie, said yesterday.

"He just missed a couple of bits of work last week, which is not what you want at this time of the year.

"We will probably go the Irish route with him," Stack added.

The Tetrarch Stakes is run at the Curragh the day after the Newmarket Guineas early next month.

Myboycharlie shot to the top of the Newmarket Guineas betting after a hugely impressive victory in the Prix Morny at Deauville last August on the day when Kieren Fallon provided the positive drugs test that provoked his 18-month worldwide ban.

However, on his only subsequent start, and on his first attempt beyond six furlongs, Myboycharlie lost his unbeaten record when third to New Approach in the National Stakes at the Curragh.

"He has done well over the winter, grown stronger, and will definitely get seven furlongs this season. We will have to see about the mile," Stack reported.

"Johnny Murtagh will have the choice regarding riding arrangements, but Wayne Lordan can ride instead if he is required."

Myboycharlie is a general 20 to 1 shot in ante-post betting for the Newmarket Guineas.

The news comes on the back of confirmation that the former 1,000 Guineas favourite Listen will miss Newmarket after a setback, and is also unlikely to make the Epsom Oaks, according to her trainer, Aidan O'Brien.

The champion trainer made an encouraging start to the Curragh season with two winners, and O'Brien is also likely to be heavily represented in Sunday's meeting at headquarters, with four entries for the Group Three Castlemartin & La Louviere Studs Gladness Stakes alone.

The quartet includes last year's French 2,000 Guineas winner Astronomer Royal, as well as O'Brien's ex-French recruit US Ranger.

Another Ballydoyle hope could be Honoured Guest, who ran third to his stable companion in the French Guineas at Longchamp last May.

Ground conditions at the Curragh are "soft", and six British-trained possibles remain for the Gladness, along with Kevin Prendergast's high-class Danzig colt Haatef.

Another home contender is the former Lincolnshire winner Deauville Vision, who also holds an entry in the 10-furlong Alleged Stakes on the same card.

"She will possibly go for the Gladness, although it will depend on the ground and the opposition," said her trainer Michael Halford, whose mare ran third in the Park Express at the course 10 days ago.

"It was a very good run. Only time will tell, but I think there were two very good fillies in front of her.

"I thought she ran a blinder and she could get lucky in one of these races one day. She has come out of that last race very well."

Also among the 13 remaining contenders for the Listed Alleged Stakes is the former Epsom Derby favourite Macarthur, as well as a pair of cross-sea horses, Geoff Wragg's Grand Passion and Champery from Mark Johnston's yard.

Seventeen horses are in the Listed Bank of Ireland Loughbrown Stakes, including five Ballydoyle hopes.

Poet and Georgebernardshaw, who both won at the last Curragh, meeting are among them.