2018 2000 Guineas Winner Odds & Predictions – May 5th, 2018

Aiden O'Brien with strong hand at Newmarket Classic

Horse Racing Betting

The first Classic of the season arrives on the weekend as the 2000 Guineas takes place at Newmarket. The famous 1-mile race is one of five Classics across the course of the season and it is also the first leg of the equally famous Triple Crown. To win the Triple Crown a horse has to win this, followed by the Derby and then the St Leger all in the same season. It’s an epic feat to pull off an unfortunately not a lot of horses chase it down anymore.

The 2018 edition of the 2000 Guineas is the 210th running of the race so it is one that is absolutely steeped in rich history. Here we take a preview of what is to come on Saturday, May 5th, 2018.

2017 2,000 Guineas Review

Irish Thoroughbred Churchill turned up at Newmarket last year and took the win for Aidan O’Brien. Churchill had gone off as the 6/4 favourite with Ryan Moore in the saddle and duly delivered by a length over Barney Roy. He moved to the front over one furlong out and just held his ground very well and never looked in trouble from there.

2018 2,000 Guineas Winner Odds*

Gustav Klimt 5/2, Saxon Warrior 4/1, Masar 9/2, Elarqam 5/1, Expert Eye 9/1, Roaring Lion 16/1, James Garfield 16/1, Headway 25/1, bar 33/1* (betting odds taken on May 4th, 2018 at 3:12 a.m.)

2018 2,000 Guineas Preview

Aidan O’Brien who has won two of the last three editions of the race is back for another full-on assault of the 2000 Guineas. He has two of the leading three entries for the race, but his main challenger is Gustav Klimt who is the 5/2 odds-on favourite at William Hill* (betting odds taken on May 4th, 2018 at 3:12 a.m.). He had a run at Newmarket last season in winning the bet365 Superlative Stakes as race favourite. His renewal this season was at Leopardstown in mid-April and he cruised to a strong win over Imaging in the 2000 Guineas Trial Stakes.

Masar has been taking plenty of backing through the week in the build up to the 2018 renewal and he is carrying form and trainer Charlie Appleby is as well. Masar really raised the stakes at Newmarket back in April as he absolutely destroyed the field in the bet365 Craven Stakes, taking down White Mocha by nine lengths. It was as powerful of a run as you’re likely to see this season and that naturally set punters on high alert and at the 9/2 odds with William Hill* (betting odds taken on May 4th, 2018 at 3:12 a.m.) he is very handily priced.

Aiden O’Brian’s Saxon Warrior sandwiches the two in the betting market. He has gone three for three for O’Brien. The Japanese raider has three wins from three career outings and even just a couple of months ago he was up at the head of the market. But things have shifted since then because of the strong performances that Gustav Klimt and Masar have shown this season, while Saxon Warrior has been held back for this. This will be his first outing at Newmarket though.

Elarqam won his two outings back in September, one of them at Newmarket in the Tattersalls STakes. He is the son of the great Frankel and looks set to have a very strong one-mile career ahead of him. There is a lot to like and he has a good chance of getting in the frame for this one. Looking down the list of runners for some big each way value it is hard to look past James Garfield who will have Frankie Dettori in the saddle. He is a real scraper and showed very well in winning the Greenham at Newbury. This is a step up in distance though but a tasty each way punt for a super fit horse.

Predictions

Aidan O’Brien is showing a strong hand with Gustav Klimt and Saxon Warrior. Of the two Gustav Klimt could well have the edge after his impressive run at Leopardstown. But there is also a tremendous amount to like about Elarqam to challenge well inside the top three.