Key Points
- The first Flat Classics of the year are here
- Guineas weekend and I’m doubling up
- 2000 and 1000 Guineas NAP selections
It's an action-packed Newmarket meeting this weekend!
The time has arrived! It’s the first classic weekend of the season and we are double-handed with both the 2000 Guineas and the 1000 Guineas. Here is where we find out who is the best miler from a star-studded bunch of three-year-olds that were bred specifically for these races.
Let’s play cross-Classic doubles!
I’ve always been a huge fan of Guineas weekend, and as usual, I’ll be doubling up across both races. I have firm selections for both races and it didn’t take me long to come to a conclusion either. I’ve already got stuck into these selections and I’m feeling very excited for this weekend of great racing and big chances.
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Newmarket, Saturday 6 May
16.40: The Qipco 2000 Guineas
This year’s 2000 Guineas looks very clear cut to me and my main selection is Auguste Rodin. I’m going to run through why I’m so set on that one, but I will say right now that it’s mostly related to the fact that a number of his rivals have a lot to prove over this trip.
Little Big Bear
is a very classy animal, but he’s taking his chance here based on that alone. There are major doubts about his stamina over this trip in my opinion. Admittedly, there’s plenty of stamina on his dam’s side, but very little to see on his sire’s side which is where that sort of influence would show.
He is a winner over both 5 furlongs and 6 furlongs, but for him to win a Guineas over a mile is a completely different task. Despite having four straight wins at the end of last season, there would need to be a huge amount of improvement for him to be as effective over this trip.
For one thing, he would need to be able to travel on the bridle for over 6 furlongs and from what we've seen of him, that seems unlikely and I don’t think his running style will suit this trip at all. Even if he does manage that part, I simply don’t feel he has the turn of foot needed for the sprint finish that’s required to win this race.
On the other hand, his stablemate (and hot Favourite)
Auguste Rodin
has plenty of stamina and has already proven it over a mile on two occasions already, the most recent being on heavy ground. He was a little bit tricky early on in his racing career, but has progressed in each of his four starts to date and is maturing nicely.
He now settles better, travels better and has proven his effectiveness over this trip. Tactically, I can see him being quite prominent early on and I feel his rivals won’t be able to live with him from the furlong pole to the finishing line. Personally, I think he has a huge chance here.
Another very interesting contender is
Chaldean
and at 7/1 he looks a cracking each way bet. In fairness, I don’t think he is good enough to beat the Favourite here, but he has a lot of raw talent and if he turns up in tip-top shape, he will almost certainly be in the places.
Royal Scotsman
is one I find hard to weigh up. He has come within a head of Chaldean in the past, but I’m not seeing the same level of improvement. He’s a worthy contender for sure, but I feel he has too much on his plate here. In the same way,
Holloway Boy
also has a chance of hitting the frame on his best form and it will be interesting to see how he has progressed.
My verdict
The one to beat has to be
Auguste Rodin
who has every box ticked for this race and even his trainer Aiden O’Brien has labelled him as a potential Triple Crown contender. Of course, he has to go and win this one first and it will take a seriously special horse to take down the hot favourite here.
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Newmarket, Sunday 7 May
15.40: The Qipco 1000 Guineas
The 1000 Guineas is a little more open in the betting and on paper too, but I still feel confident about a select few of the runners in the line-up. We’ve got
Lezoo, who has her own little fan club and kept improving all of last season, beating the Ballydoyle number one
Meditate
when they both met here at Newmarket over 6 furlongs.
However, the extra quarter mile might make a big difference to the result here and Lezoo could struggle over this trip. That said, it’s more than possible that she has improved sufficiently to play a part and at a double figure price, she’s too classy to dismiss.
Polly Pott
at 66/1 has a lot on her plate here too, but she is worth noting as Ben Pauling’ first ever Classic runner.
Mammas Girl
looks progressive, but I’m not sure she is good enough to contend here and her price tag is way too short.
I’d be much keener to back
Remarquee, who looked extremely impressive last time out when she won easily at Newbury. The step up here looks like it is almost certainly going to bring out some more improvement in her and she comes into this race fit and ready to go after winning just two weeks ago. I really fancy her to run a big race.
My Verdict
However, I think the best two fillies in this race are
Tahiyra
and
Meditate, who locked horns at the Curragh last year. On that day, Tahiyra got the upper hand over 7 furlongs, but since then Meditate has gone on to win over a mile, so they are fairly closely matched. My gut feeling is that Meditate is going to get the reversal of form first time out this season, but that Tahiyra will turn out to be the best of the pair by the end of the season.
Joe’s doubles
We are definitely going to see some serious racing action at Newmarket this weekend and these are my doubles, which I’m hoping will cover a lot of bases.
Meditate is the one I’m selecting to double up with Auguste Rodin
both of whom run for the same connections.
I’m also doubling up REMARQUEE with CHALDEAN
who are both at a bigger prices and have excellent chances of placing.
Joe’s video view of the 1000 and 2000 Guineas
2000 & 1000 Guineas Final Selections | Guineas Tips and Preview | Ginger Joe Racing | Betting.co.uk
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