At 3.35 on Saturday afternoon at Newmarket, the first British Classic of the flat season is run – the Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes, to give it its full name. Nineteen horses have been declared and here’s a quick look at them all.
TEN SOVEREIGNS (Trainer: Aidan O’Brien; Jockey: Ryan Moore) 7-2: The jockey booking has seen this one go to the head of the betting. A winner of all three races run as a two-year-old, culminating in the Group One Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. Not run this season.
MAGNA GRECIA (T: Aidan O’Brien; J: Donnacha O’Brien) 4-1: Another yet to see the track in 2019 and another who ran three times in 2018, the last run being a Group One win at Doncaster.
MADHMOON (T: Kevin Prendergast; J: Chris Hayes) 7-1: Three runs, all at Leopardstown but a second on soft ground over 7f can probably be trumped in the form stakes by two mile wins on better ground as a 2yo.
SKARDU (T: William Haggas; J: James Doyle) 7-1: Best regarded in the market of the home hopes. Only run twice, but both have been at Newmarket and his victory in the Craven means he must be respected.
ADVERTISE (T: Martyn Meade; J: Frankie Dettori) 8-1: The only horses to beat this one are Too Darn Hot and Calyx which is a positive, but four of his five runs have been over 6f and is asked to go to a mile for the first time.
ROYAL MARINE (T: Saeed bin Suroor; J: Christophe Soumillon) 8-1: Fourth behind Skardu recently and a Group One winner at Longchamp as a two-year-old.
AL HILALEE (T: Charlie Appleby; J: William Buick) 12-1: Dubawi colt has run twice, both times successfully as a two-year-old. Performances have hinted at potential to come, especially on a good surface.
GREAT SCOT (T: Tom Dascombe; J: Richard Kingscote) 20-1: Has some excellent form in the book, running the likes of Magna Grecia and Al Hilalee pretty close and the trip will hold no worries.
SET PIECE (T: Hugo Palmer; J: Jim Crowley) 20-1: After two runs on the all-weather, his first run on turf was that Craven Stakes, finishing third, so course and distance boxes are ticked.
KICK ON (T: John Gosden, J: Oisin Murphy) 25-1: Well held at Doncaster in the Vertem Futurity Trophy by Magna Grecia, but another with plenty of course and distance experience.
MOMKIN (T: Roger Charlton; J: Seamie Heffernan) 25-1: The Craven again – Momkin was second in that race and did not get a clean run.
URBAN ICON (T: Richard Hannon; J: Tom Marquand) 25-1: One with neither course nor distance form and was behind Great Scot in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury so others rightly better regarded.
SHINE SO BRIGHT (T: Andrew Balding; J: Silvestre De Sousa) 33-1: Another with doubts over the trip having debuted over 5f.
EMARAATY ANA (T: Kevin Ryan; J: David Egan) 40-1: Well beaten by Ten Sovereigns in Middle Park Stakes and never been further than 6f.
DARK VISION (T: Mark Johnston; J: Joe Fanning) 50-1: Started brightly with three wins as a two-year-old. Exposed in a race won by Too Darn Hot at Doncaster and only run this year was on all-weather.
AZANO (T: John Gosden; J: Rob Havlin) 66-1: Behind Shine So Bright last time out and not one feasibly for the shortlist.
KING OF CHANGE (T: Richard Hannon; J: Sean Levey) 66-1: This is a massive step up from previous win at Nottingham.
NAME THE WIND (T: James Tate; J: PJ McDonald) 66-1: Unbeaten, but both wins came on all-weather at Kempton.
SPORTING CHANCE (T: Simon Crisford; J: Pat Cosgrave) 66-1: Has 11 runs under his belt but even with four wins he looks plenty exposed.
