Trainer Lee Hope will be looking for some divine intervention to get Guru Bob over the line ahead of Denman in the Australian Guineas at Flemington .The three-year-old would give Hope and his son Shannon, who co-train the gelding, their first Group One win.However Lee Hope said that at the weights it was impossible to see Guru Bob turning the tables on Denman who he has met twice for two defeats.Guru Bob was second, beaten just over three lengths, when Denman won the Group Two D'Urban Stakes (14

Trainer Lee Hope will be looking for some divine intervention to get Guru Bob over the line ahead of Denman in the Australian Guineas at Flemington .

The three-year-old would give Hope and his son Shannon, who co-train the gelding, their first Group One win.

However Lee Hope said that at the weights it was impossible to see Guru Bob turning the tables on Denman who he has met twice for two defeats.

Guru Bob was second, beaten just over three lengths, when Denman won the Group Two D'Urban Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield two weeks ago and meets him 3kg worse on Saturday.

He meets Denman 4kg worse on their January clash in the Zeditave Stakes when Denman won and Guru Bob finished three lengths behind in fourth place.

"At the weights we can't get any closer," Hope said.

"But he has drawn nicely (barrier three) and the owners wanted to run, and I don't blame them.

"He has beaten some of those other horses, he just hasn't been able to beat Denman."

Guru Bob is named after the fun character who features on the Coodabeen Champions radio program where he imparts his own form of wisdom in relation to sport, particularly AFL football.

The Coodabeens, who include Jeff Richardson, Ian Cover and Greg Champion, have followed the progress of the horse with interest, although they are not directly connected the ownership.

Hope said Guru Bob deserved his chance in the Guineas (1600m) which will be his ninth start.

His only win was as a two-year-old at Echuca but with Dan Nikolic riding him at his last three starts he has emerged as one of the better three-year-olds in the state.

"You don't often get a an opportunity with a horse to run in a Group One and he is going to be competitive on his form," Hope said.

"He will acquit himself well but it is a challenge."

Hope said he'd had several Group One runners in the past and came closest to winning one when Intriguing finished third to Demerger in the 2005 Adelaide Cup.

Denman dominates the Australian Guineas chart at $1.55 with TAB Sportsbet ahead of star filly Set For Fame ($5.50) and emerging talent Linton ($6.50) who won the Alister Clark Stakes at only his third start last month.

Guru Bob is $51 with Chief Of Staff ($101) the only runner in the in the nine-horse field at longer odds.

Set For Fame would be the third filly to win the Guineas after Triscay (1991) and Miss Finland (2007).

Jockey Steven Arnold will ride Set For Fame's stable mate Hanks and is a fan of the filly.

"She looks pretty special to me," Arnold said.

Hanks is on an AJC Australian Derby campaign and Arnold believes that last year's AAMI Vase (2040m) winner could find the 1600 meters too short in the Guineas.

"They might be a little bit too sharp for him but I'm sure he will win one of the longer races," Arnold said.