2000 Guineas preview – The lowdown on Newmarket Classic
There is Classic action this Saturday with the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. The card also contains the Jockey Club Stakes and Palace House Stakes. This tells you which horses to look out for on the Rowley Mile, according to Horsebetting.com experts.
Starting with the Flat feature, the 2000 Guineas (15:40) has a very open feel to it compared to last year. Wembley heads the betting, but only won one of his six starts as a juvenile. He bumped into subsequent Vertem Futurity Trophy winner Mac Swiney on his second outing of the campaign, and has shaped like a mile will suit him on his last couple of starts.
Wembley chased home Thunder Moon in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at The Currah, then filled the same spot in the Dewhurst over 7f here. He represents the best of that form after reversing placings with the Joseph O’Brien colt, so the 4/1 with Boylesports looks fair now he gets the extra furlong.
Mutasaabeq has been supplemented for the 2000 Guineas by trainer Charlie Hills. He is two from two at the track, so it’s easy to see why his Shadwell connections are having a go. Aidan O’Brien also has Battleground engaged and he won at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood last season. Ballydoyle has Van Gogh too with distance form figures of 221, who placed in the Autumn Stakes over course and distance.
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Master Of The Seas has fine course record
Godolphin run three, matching their Coolmore rivals, with One Ruler the shortest price of those. Like Van Gogh, he got the trip as a juvenile with and may want further as a result. One Ruler was far from disgraced when only finding Mac Swiney too good at Doncaster. He is versatile as regards ground, but Charlie Appleby stable companion MASTER OF THE SEAS has a fitness edge.
If course and distance form is the key to the 2000 Guineas, then he is three from three at this venue. The keenness of his early runs may well be addressed by the application of a hood. That was certainly the impression Master Of The Seas created when landing the Craven on reappearance.
William Buick picks him over One Ruler, which could be a tip in itself. Master Of The Seas is a great each-way bet at 8/1 with BetVictor, who pay four places, on this Classic contest. Of those at bigger odds, Chindit needed all of the 7f in the Greenham at Newbury to win last time out. Trainer Richard Hannon has concerns about him handling the Rowley Mile, though, so general odds of 12/1 come with that wiarning.
Jessica Harrington has her horses in good order, so Lucky Vega could outrun his 20/1 price. He was unlucky in the run in the National Stakes when twice denied a clear run. Jim Bolger saddled Poetic Flare to a Leopardstown Classic Trial success on reappearance, so he’s a 14/1 shot here.
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Newmarket betting tips – Pyledriver the pick of supporting card punts
The chief supporting race on 2000 Guineas day is the 1m 4f Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes (15:00). A select field of five runs here, and ratings topper PYLEDRIVER is well worth a wager on his best form. Trained by William Muir, this four-year-old Harbour Watch colt outran double figure odds twice last term.
Pyledriver shaped like this trip would suit on reappearance at Kempton. He then landed the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, which acted a Derby trial last season. Although Epsom did not go to plan, Pyledriver was far from alone in that. He resumed winning ways in the Great Voltigeur at York and ran a fine third in the St Leger.
Soft ground and 10 furlongs weren’t ideal for him in the Champion Stakes. This is definitely the trip for Pyledriver, and he has 7lb and upwards in hand here according to the assessor. That makes odds of 5/2 with Betfred look value here for a winning return to action.
Sir Ron Priestley made his own victorious comeback after more than a year off the track, but this trip may be short of his best. Mark Johnston also runs Thunderous, who disappointed in the Gordon Richards at Sandown. The potential improve is William Haggas’ Al Zaraqaan, but almost all his form is on artificial surfaces. Stable companion Pablo Escobarr completes the line-up.
Garrus gets Palace House Stakes vote
In the 5f Group 3 Palace House Stakes (14:25), Lazuli heads both the weights and betting. This is a very open sprint with little between a number of runners on adjusted ratings. Giving weight away all-round might not be ideal for Godolphin’s runner. Came From The Dark is improving after a neck victory over GARRUS at Newbury. On revised terms, however, Charlie Hills’ charge is 4lb better off.
That should sufficient to reverse the placings. Garrus also missed all of last season through injury. However, he should be fully fit now after a couple of runs, including a successful comeback on the All-Weather. The 11/2 with Betfair about his chances looks value here, as he’s open to more progress than usual horses of his age.
Judicial remains in training aged nine, and will have his supporters. He was second in this race last season for trainer Julie Camacho, so could go well again if he retains his ability. There was plenty to suggest that based on the rest of his campaign, which included black type wins at Newcastle and Chester.
As Judicial is the same price as Garrus, however, but four years older, it could pay to side with youth. If running up to their ratings, then Dubai Station and Emaraaty Ana enter calculations too. The former has switched stables to Robert Cowell. Emaraaty Ana drops back in trip after finishing second in te Abernant Stakes here in April, but Garrus gets the vote.
