Elusive Pimpernel was cut to 5-1 second favourite (from 16s) by the sponsors for the StanJames.com 2,000 Guineas after landing the Craven Stakes at Newmarket in breathtaking fashion.
John Dunlop's charge, who was sent off a 10-11 favourite, looked in trouble for a fleeting moment when getting outpaced at the halfway stage but picked up really well from three out and strode clear as they met the rising ground to score going away by four lengths from Dancing David (6-1) and Critical Moment (12-1).
The colt could not have been more impressive, but paid a huge compliment to current Guineas favourite St Nichoilas Abbey who made him look ordinary when showing a blistering turn of foot to beat him by a wide margin in last season's Racing Post Trophy.
Stan James' Head of PR Charlie McCann said: "That was some performance. We have now gone 5-1 from 16s. I was very taken with what he did.
"The Dunlop colt paid a massive complement to his Racing Post Trophy conqueror St Nicholas Abbey who remains our 5/2 favourite. Irish eyes are likely to have been firmly focussed on the Rowley Mile this afternoon and Aidan O'Brien cannot have been too concerned with what he witnessed given the nature of his colt's victory over today's Craven Stakes winner at Doncaster back in the autumn."
