Field of Gold is going to be hard to beat in tomorrow’s Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket (3.35 p.m.). He was impressive when winning the Group 3 bet365 Craven Stakes over course and distance last month and, according to his joint trainer John Gosden, the horse was only ‘80 to 85 per cent’ fit for that race.
However, his rating of 118 means he is not officially the best horse in the race – that honour goes to Shadow of Light. Field of Gold is the most likely winner of the race but odds of 7-4 make no appeal.
After careful consideration, Godolphin’s stable jockey William Buick has decided not to ride Shadow of Light, the winner of both the Darley Dewhurst Stakes and the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes, the two Grades 1s for two-year-olds at Newmarket last season.
Instead, Buick has opted to ride Ruling Court, also trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, and this accounts for the fact that this horse has been heavily backed into 4-1 second favourite over the last couple of days.
Buick’s decision to ride him rather than stick to the form horse of the race is a big advertisement for Ruling Court’s chances. There was certainly plenty to like about his comfortable Meydan win early last month and this lightly-raced colt is open to further improvement. However, a top price of 4-1, once again, seems short enough.
On balance, the bet for me is Jessica Harrington’s GREEN IMPACT, who twice defeated Aidan O’ Brien’s decent colt, Delcroix, at Leopardstown last season. Harrington decided not to give her charge a prep run for the Guineas but I can see him running a big race tomorrow even if his best distance later in the season is a few furlongs further.
Without having had a run this season, it is hard to know whether Green Impact has trained on but his veteran handler seems very happy with him. Back him each way at 12-1 with bet365, SkyBet or Betfred, all paying four places. There are slightly bigger prices available with bookies paying only three places.
I am not going to bet in the Betfred 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday (3.35 p.m.) but, once again, the favourite is going to be tough to beat. Desert Flower, trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, was unbeaten in her four starts last season and comes here with a big reputation.
Her final run last season, destroying a decent field in the Group 1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile over course and distance in October, earned her an official rating of 117. It was always the plan to go to the Guineas fresh without a prep run but odds of evens or a shade odds-on are easy to decline.
I was tempted to put up Jack Channon’s Hey Boo at a huge price (66-1 before this morning’s 48-hour declarations) because she is very much the apple of her trainer’s eye. I am pretty confident that she will improve on his seasonal debut when beaten by Duty First and she will improve for the step up in trip as well but she may not have the class to win a classic.
My only other recommended bet for this weekend’s racing runs in tomorrow’s Ladbrokes Thirsk Hunt Cup (2.35 p.m.). Trainer Julie Camacho has her horses in fine form (four winners from her last 17 runners for a strike rate of 24 per cent) and OBELIX looks to have been laid out for this race.
He ran well in his prep race for this at this course over an inadequate seven furlongs last month, staying on well for fourth after being slightly squeezed for room more than a furlong out. Back him 1 point each way at 11/2 with SkyBet, paying five places rather than taking half a point bigger with just four places.
This time last year I put up ZOFFEE at 16-1 for the Chester Cup and I am glad to say he duly obliged a week later. I am hoping for more of the same from trainer Hugo Palmer’s stayer, who was also second in the 2023 running of the race.
Zoffee showed little last season after his Chester Cup win and, as a result, is back to an official mark of 91, just l lb higher than he won off 12 months ago. There are a lot of horses in the race near the top of the market who prefer soft ground but are unlikely to get it.
Zoffee, who has a preference for quick ground, was lucky enough to draw stall 1 a year ago and, hopefully, he can get an inside berth again. He goes well fresh so do not be worried by his lack of a run this season as that was always the plan.
At nine years old, he is not getting any younger but back him 1 point each way at 20-1 with bet365, paying four places for the Ladbrokes Chester Cup a week today (9 May).
The favourite for this race, East India Dock, is undoubtedly well weighted on his high-class hurdles’ form and, if he stays and has a clear run, will be hard to beat but, as usual, I prefer to look for one at bigger prices in an open handicap where luck in running is always required around Chester’s tight turns.
Pending:
1 point each way Obelix at 11-2 for the Thirsk Hunt Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Green Impact at 12-1 for 2000 Guineas, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Zoffee at 20-1 for the Chester Cup, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
Last weekend: + 10.8 points.
1 point each way HMS President at 12-1 for thebet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Give It To Me Oj at 14-1 for thebet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. 1st. + 16.8 points.
1 point each way Classic Anthem at 9-2 for the bet365 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Victtorino at 20-1 for the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2024-5 jump season: – 47.61 points.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jump season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jump season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
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