Aidan O’Brien has trained the winner of the Qipco 2000 Guineas on seven previous occasions and has the hot favourite this year in Air Force Blue.
Now, you are not going to get rich backing the son of War Front at a best 8/11 with betway at Newmarket this Saturday but his two-year-old form was the best overall and it’s unlikely the lack of a recent run will be a problem – it certainly wasn’t for stablemate Gleneagles 12 months ago!
He beat Massaat (a best 14/1) by more than three lengths in the Dewhurst in October having got the better of Herald The Dawn (a general 33/1) in the National Stakes at the Curragh earlier. He was beaten by Buratino (18/1 with Paddy Power) over 6f at Royal Ascot last June but Mark Johnston admits that his colt may not stay the mile in the 2000 Guineas.
There is, however, also a slight stamina doubt surrounding the favourite. His dam never raced beyond 6f so we don’t really know what will be left in reserve inside the final furlong on the Rowley Mile and, for that reason, I’d rather have an each-way interest in GALILEO GOLD.
It’s 17 years since Frankie last steered home a 2000 Guineas winner but he should have a willing partner in Hugo Palmer’s Paco Boy colt. His sire didn’t run in the 2000 Guineas but went on to prove himself a top-class miler, winning the Queen Anne Stakes and the Lockinge. Out of a Galileo mare, stamina was never going to be a problem as he’s already shown with a fast-finishing third in the Grand Criterium at Longchamp- he’s available at 12/1 with Paddy Power.
Qipco 2000 Guineas Current Best Odds
Air Force Blue (8/11), Stormy Antarctic (8/1), Galileo Gold and Marcel (12/1), Massaat (14/1), Buratino (18/1), Herald The Dawn (33/1), Air Vice Marshall and Ribchester (40/1), Zonderland (66/1), First Selection and Zhui Feng (100/1), Kentuckyconnection (250/1)
Aidan O’Brien and his Ballydoyle stable also dominate the betting in Sunday’s Qipco 2000 Guineas.
The aptly-named Ballydoyle (13/2 with betway) is one of three entries for the yard in the season’s second classic but she’s only third favourite behind stablemate MINDING (6/4 with betway), even though she beat her stable companion in the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh in August. Ryan Moore’s mount took her revenge in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and then beat Nathra (a general 10/1) in the Dubai Fillies Mile. With the 1000 Guineas run over the same course and distance as that latter race this weekend, Minding is difficult to oppose.
Mark Johnston is convinced that Lumiere (a general 5/1) will stay the mile and she looked a top-class filly in three runs last year. She’ll be a threat to all if lasting home as she beat Illuminate and Alice Springs in the Cheveley Park last year.
Qipco 1000 Guineas Current Best Odds
Minding (6/4), Lumiere (5/1), Ballydoyle (13/2), Nathra (10/1), Illuminate (16/1), Alice Springs, Jet Setting, Turret Rocks and Midweek (20/1), Mix And Mingle and Robanne (33/1), Blue Bayou (50/1), Fireglow and Aljazzi (66/1), Sharja Queen (100/1), Epsom Icon (150/1)
