We’re seeking out those winners on 2000 Guineas day
Published:
The first Classic of the flat season is upon us as Aidan O’Brien looks to end his spell of three years without success in the race with hot favourite Gleneagles.
The colt is the solid favourite on two-year-old form, but with no run this season the question remains around whether he has ‘trained on’.
We discussed the 2000 Guineas in our latest podcast, to give you our picks for the Newmarket showpiece.
Before then though, there are three other Group races live on Channel 4 on the Rowley Mile.
Remember you can take in our free bet offer* on all these contests, so get stuck into our picks for the contests at HQ.
Without a win since taking the Cambridgeshire over course and distance back in September 2013, EDUCATE finally has his chance to break his losing run.
Since that success Ismail Mohammed’s charge has been either forced to shoulder top weight in decent handicaps or step up into Listed and Group level.
While he hasn’t been disgraced, this looks more his level, and with Bronze Angel in the field, he avoids top-weight.
Last seen running a credible race on return in the Earl of Sefton here behind the progressive French Navy, he will have the fitness edge over many of his rivals.
With the ground in his favour, at a course he has winning form on, and a jockey in William Buick who is firing in the winners at present on board, he looks a big price.
STEPPER POINT is taken to go three better, after finishing just a length back in fourth in this race last year.
In truth, this year’s renewal looks weaker, and William Muir’s charge should have enough to reverse the form with the ageing Kingsgate Native (second last year).
The six-year-old is going the right way in the sprinting ranks and ran some cracking races behind the best of the lot in Sole Power last season, finishing second behind Eddie Lynam’s superstar in the Kings Stand and the Nunthorpe in 2014.
His ninth in the Al Quonz Sprint at Meydan is better than the bare result and he’s entitled to come on for that run.
There’s questions to answer for many of his opponents, some who are usually better at further and others stepping up from handicap company, so stick with this proven Group performer.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out that TELESCOPE is the likely winner of the Jockey Club Stakes. Sir Michael Stoute’s five-year-old bumped into some special types last year in the form of Australia, Taghrooda and The Grey Gatsby.
But his performance in the Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot is hard to forget, when he pulled clear of the useful Hillstar in devastating fashion.
He has won first time out in the past, so should be ready for this, has conditions in his favour, and gets 3lb from Pether’s Moon who is actually rated 7lbs inferior.
The favourite will be a very short price, so backing the likely forecast with Richard Hannon’s horse filling the runners up place is the way to go.
His second behind Arab Spring in the John Porter Stakes was the perfect prep and he looks a way clear of the four-year-old pair, who look no more than useful handicappers.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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