DAY two of the QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket on King Charles’ Coronation Day will be a unique experience and I’m proud to be presenting at the home of flat racing.
The forecast at the time of writing on early Friday morning is for about 3mm of rain from late morning, which is a much better situation than it looked a few days ago and Friday’s card will see similar rainfall, so you are still going to be looking at quick going for the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas.
Auguste Rodin heads the market for the Aiden O’ Brien team, who have won the 2,000 Guineas on four occasions in the last ten years, with stablemate Little Big Bear second favourite, who like Sakheer and Noble Style have questions about their stamina limitations.
Interestingly in the last five years there hasn’t been a winning favourite, however Auguste Rodin Unibet 13/8 can take his first step on to Triple Crown immortality by taking this classic over what is definitely his minimum trip on his way to Epsom next month. Auguste Rodin won the Group 2 Champion Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown beating Caroline Street and then won the Futurity Trophy in the heavy at Doncaster in impressive fashion when forging clear to beat Epictetus. The Futurity Trophy is a good marker and providing he can cope with the quicker conditions this Deep Impact colt surely has strong claims, with Silver Knott and Dubai Mile the each way selections.
On the day of King Charles’ Coronation there is a Royal runner at Newmarket with Saga, who appears in the Howden Suffolk Stakes at 3.25 and by which time the King will have been crowned. Frankie Dettori takes the ride, having finished second on Saga in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot and Saga will certainly have each way claims for His Majesty The King and The Queen Consort.
Enjoy the Coronation celebrations and a fantastic QIPCO 2,000 Guineas day at Newmarket or watching #athome on ITV4 or Racing TV.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
2.15 Newmarket – Howden British EBF Ellen Chaloner Stakes Listed (6f)
Princess Shabnam ran awfully on debut this year but that was also the case last year and within a couple of starts she’d found her form, so she gets a pass for that run. Princess Shabham did nothing but improve throughout the summer last year, beating Gale Force Maya at Pontefract (making the most of her inside draw). She looks sure to lead these and the yard continue in good form and in a race which is more open than the betting suggests.
Unibet 12/1 each way
Unibet are paying Money Back as Cash in this race if your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd!
2.50 Newmarket – Howden Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (6f)
Probe came from a mile back to win on debut for the Jennie Candlish yard at Wolverhampton in March and then followed up with an excellent second to Orazio over course and distance last time out at the Craven meeting after probably hitting the front too soon on that occasion. Probe has won over a mile and was campaigned over that sort of trip last season, having won over seven furlongs during his debut season as a three-year-old.
This six-furlong trip is clearly working, and he could have a good draw in stall 22 to work from if the high numbers are favoured. He will get a lead and should be in the frame, at worst, on quicker ground than is normal for him, which could really benefit this Kingman gelding.
Unibet 8/1 each way
3.25 Newmarket – Howden Suffolk Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (1m 1f)
Majestic made his debut as a four-year-old in 2022 with one run over hurdles and then had eight appearances on the flat, culminating in his Cambridgeshire success over course and distance, which rounded off a great season. Majestic showed that was no fluke when he ran right up to that form when fourth in the Lincoln at Doncaster on his seasonal reappearance, despite the heavy ground not being in his favour. His mark of 93 probably still underestimates him and he looks nailed-on to be in the frame again with quicker conditions and the Jack Channon yard have an impressive strike rate.
Unibet 15/2 each way
4.00 Newmarket – Howden Palace House Stakes Group 3 (5f)
Manaccan (nap) is closely matched with Twilight Calls and this consistent type can come out on top here after ending last season in good style when taking the Group 3 Mercury Stakes at Dundalk over this minimum trip to beat some smart rivals. This had followed a Listed Race success at Ascot, when he didn’t get a clear run when third to Mitbaahy in a Group 3 at Newbury on his previous start. Manaccan has tremendous speed, looks most effective over the minimum trip and a sound surface is sure to suit this four-year-old, whose best is yet to come.
Unibet 7/2
4.40 Newmarket – QIPCO 2000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) 1m
Auguste Rodin is a solid favourite at Unibet 13/8 after his Futurity Trophy success and Silver Knott and Dubai Mile are the two each-way selections with Unibet paying four places.
Silver Knott won three of his six juvenile starts, including the Solario Stakes at Sandown and the Autumn Stakes here at Newmarket over this trip to beat Epictetus, when highlighting all of his potential. His final performance of the 2022 season has been overlooked, when just losing out in the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland to Victoria Road after not getting a clear run. This son of Lope de Vega, will be effective on the quick conditions, has not being given the credit he deserves and Silver Knott, who impressed in a recent racecourse gallop, has strong each way claims at minimum.
Unibet 12/1 each way
Dubai Mile, finished last season off with a Group 1 success at Saint-Cloud in October in Criterium de Saint-Cloud when beating Arrest (ran Friday 3.35 at Newmarket) in heavy conditions over one mile two furlongs, which makes him one of just four Group 1 winners in this year’s 2,000 Guineas field. This son of the late Roaring Lion, was second in a muddling Royal Lodge Stakes here at flat headquarters on his penultimate start and a stronger pace would have suited on that occasion from this front-runner. Dubai Mile has won on good to firm, is clearly proven at the distance and this very genuine type is a big price in a field where many of the protagonists are unlikely to get the trip.
Unibet 33/1 each way
