British racing is having to improvise with two months of the Flat season already lost to coronavirus.
But, while it’s not ideal to stage the first two Classics of the year with a week of the resumption of action, no trainers will want to offer up excuses if their charges are beaten in the first – the Qipco 2000 Guineas – on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile this Saturday.
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2000 Guineas History
First run in 1809, this is a Group 1 race for three-year-olds run at Newmarket.
Though prize money has been reduced this year, it is still worth £1/4million to the winner.
Aidan O’Brien has trained the winner on 10 occasions, including the last three. The honours list reads like a who’s who of top-class milers but no winner has gone on to land the Derby since Sea The Stars in 2009.
2000 Guineas Recent Winners
2019 MAGNA GRECIA | D O’Brien | A P O’Brien | Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor |
2018 SAXON WARRIOR | D O’Brien | A P O’Brien | Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor |
2017 CHURCHILL | R L Moore | A P O’Brien | Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor |
2016 GALILEO GOLD | L Dettori | H Palmer | Al Shaqab Racing |
2015 GLENEAGLES | R L Moore | A P O’Brien | Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor |
2014 NIGHT OF THUNDER | K Fallon | R Hannon | Saeed Manana |
2013 DAWN APPROACH | K J Manning | J S Bolger | Godolphin |
2012 CAMELOT | J P O’Brien | A P O’Brien | Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor |
2011 – FRANKEL | T Queally | Henry Cecil | K Abdulla |
2010 – MAKFI | Christophe Lemaire | Mikel Delzangles | Matthieu Offenstadt |
2009 – SEA THE STARS | Michael Kinane | John Oxx | Christopher Tsui |
2008 -HENRYTHENAVIGATOR | J Murtagh | A P O’Brien | Sue Magnier |
2007 – COCKNEY REBEL | O. Peslier | G A Huffer | Phil Cunningham |
2006 – GEORGE WASHINGTON | K. Fallon | A. P. O’Brien | Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith |
2005 – FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND | K. Fallon | A. P. O’Brien | M Tabor & Mrs J Magnier |
2004 – HAAFHD |
R. Hills | B. W. Hills | Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum |
2003 – REFUSE TO BEND |
PJ Smullen | D K Weld | Moyglare Stud Farm |
2002 – ROCK OF GIBRALTAR | J Murtagh | A. P. O’Brien | Sir Alex Ferguson & Mrs J Magnier |
2001 – GOLAN | K Fallon | Sir M Stoute | Lord Weinstock |
2000 – KING’S BEST | K Fallon | Sir M Stoute | Saeed Suhail |
Horse Racing Betting at Ladbrokes
Qipco 2000 Guineas Current Best Odds
Pinatubo 10/11
Arizona 6/1
Kameko 7/1
Kinross and Wichita 14/1
Al Suhail and Military March 16/1
Kenzai Warrior, Royal Dornoch and Mums Tipple 33/1
Starcat 50/1
Juan Elcano 66/1
Persuasion 80/1
Cepheus and New World Tapestry 100/1
(Odds correct at 11:45am 5 June, 2020)
2000 Guineas Predictions
PINATUBO was in a league of his own in the top two-year races last season and is a hot favourite to extend his unbeaten record to seven in this year’s Qipco 2000 Guineas.
He was much more forward than most of his contemporaries last year and that gap will have close over the inter but he is the clear form pick on his victories in the National Stakes at the Curragh and the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
Both of those races were over 7f but there is plenty of stamina on his dam’s side which suggest a first try over a mile won’t be a negative factor.
The Godolphin colt takes a huge percentage out of the betting market at a best 10/11 with Ladbrokes but you can fully understand why William Buick’s mount is such a short price.
Aidan O’Brien’s hopes of an 11th 2000 Guineas success are pinned on three.
Arizona (a general 6/1) and Wichita (14/1 with 888sport) finished second and third respectively in the Dewhurst so look held by the favourite but Royal Dornoch (a general 33/1) beat Kameko (a best 7/1) in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket in September and Andrew Balding’s colt subsequently won the re-routed Racing Post Trophy at Newcastle, though both of those races are usually better trials for the Derby rather than the 2000 Guineas.
It will be a surprise if either Al Suhail or Military March (both a general 16/1), Godolphin stablemates of Pinatubo, beat the favourite but Kinross is considered a lot better than he showed behind Kameko at Newcastle and can be backed at 14/1.
Roger Teal was very excited about Kenzai Warrior last season and the form of both of his victories has worked out well. At 33/1 with Bet365, his potential looks to have been underestimated but the general 33/1 chance Mums Tipple may end up running in the top sprints this year.
Bet365 ITV Racing 4/1 Offer
Back a winner at 4/1 or more and get a risk free bet on the next live ITV race (up to £50)
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