The Wine Tipster: “He loves to hear his hooves rattle, and he’ll certainly be able to do that today”
THE 2000 Guineas takes centre stage on the second day of the Guineas Festival on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket with Field of Gold at Unibet 7/4 heading the market after winning the Craven in great style last month. He had plenty in hand in what was a visually impressive performance.
He is clearly entitled to be favourite and could easily become the first favourite to win the race since Churchill in 2017.
Ruling Court, Scorthy Champ and Expanded all look dangers in the first classic of 2025.
Enjoy whether at Newmarket or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
Cheers,
The Wine Tipster
1:45 Newmarket – Heritage Handicap (6f)
Woodhay Wonder has a nice habit of winning races, and more pertinently, winning them at Newmarket, whatever track they’re using at the time. Winner of four of his five starts at HQ on good or good to firm, he warmed up for this with a good effort here last month, finishing third on ground that would have been plenty soft enough for him. He loves to hear his hooves rattle, and he’ll certainly be able to do that today. He has plenty in his favour.
2:20 Newmarket – Suffolk Stakes Heritage Handicap (1m 1f)
Hand Of God (nap) made light work of taking the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot last year despite not getting the best of runs, but once out and in daylight defeat simply never looked out of the question, and he won with any amount in hand. He wasn’t seen again after that, suggesting he’s had issues (has been gelded) but as long as he’s fit then this unexposed sort can surely improve again this year.
2:55 Newmarket – Hong Kong Jockey Club Palace House Stakes Group 3 (5f)
Washington Heights beat the future Group 1 winner Mill Stream in the Abernant here last year and then ran him to half a length again at York on his next start, and that’s top-class form in this company. He’s had a run this winter to keep him on the go, finishing a close second to another class sprinter in Rogue Lightning, and with no ground worries has a good chance.
3:35 Newmarket – 2000 Guineas Stakes Group 1 (1m)
Expanded is the most intriguing runner in the field and he could really step up on his third career appearance. His two-year-old campaign saw him win a maiden at the Curragh in October and seven days later run in the Dewhurst on the Rowley Mile finishing a neck second to Shadow of Light when he possibly could have won.
That was some run and his trainer was eulogising after that performance stating that the 2000 Guineas would be the plan.
Expanded will appreciate the step up to a mile, whilst the lack of a prep run is usual for the yard and this exciting type will run a big race.
Scorthy Champ was marked up in my Unibet blog at 12/1 when winning the National Stakes at the Curragh with something in hand and this race has seen many winners of the 2000 Guineas.The second Henri Matisse beaten by three quarters of a length went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar to frank the form.
Scorthy Champ was never favourite for any of his three starts during his juvenile campaign and yet he showed that he is very talented individual who will relish the step up to a mile.
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