THE Qipco Guineas Festival at Newmarket at the home of flat racing is a two day meeting to savour with the first two classics of the season. The 2021 Qipco 2,000 Guineas is certainly one of the most open renewals in recent times, which is reflected in the very tight betting market covering Wembley, Mutasaabeq, Thunder Moon and Battleground. The exciting supplemented Mutasaabeq is the only unbeaten runner in the field, although he is the least experienced too, as he is having his third career start. Having said that, Chindit, for Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon, suffered his only career defeat from five starts in the Dewhurst when the heavy conditions didn’t suit him. This season’s Greenham winner will appreciate the much quicker conditions on Saturday as will other contenders like Thunder Moon.

There isn’t one runner who covers all the key trends and there is a possibility of a surprise here.   

Enjoy a fascinating 2,000 Guineas day at home.

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

1.50 Newmarket – Suffolk Stakes (1m1f)

Bell Rock won first time up over a mile here last year beating Ouzo with a late challenge. Bell Rock on his penultimate start in the Cambridgeshire over this trip showed he stayed when third after being unlucky in the last furlong, having come from off the pace. 

Ignore his last run at Ascot in the Balmoral when the draw didn’t work for him. The quick ground is in his favour and the Andrew Balding yard is in good form.

Unibet 100/30 win

2.25 Newmarket – Palace House Stakes Group 3 (5f)

Arecibo won on his first start for sprint specialist Robert Cowell at Newmarket last month and although he has been raised eight pounds by the handicapper he can score in what looks a sub standard renewal. Arecibo hadn’t won since July 2019 and yet on so many occasions he had travelled smoothly throughout before finding little at the business end of a race.

This six-year-old has bags of ability and he certainly found plenty here last month so can keep progressing for his new trainer.

Unibet 17/2 each way

3.00 Newmarket – Jockey Club Stakes Group 2 (1m 4f)

Sir Ron Priestley made a very eye-catching return to action at Nottingham in April, winning a Listed contest from the front when beating Ocean Wind in tremendous style over one mile six furlongs. This was first appearance since finishing second in the 2019 St. Leger and despite the drop back in trip and Pyledriver in the field you can see this front runner winning again for the Mark Johnston team.

Unibet 5/2 win

3.40 Newmarket – Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) 1m

Mutasaabeq (nap), who was supplemented after his exciting Craven meeting success, can strike on his third career start and give his sire Invincible Spirit another 2,000 Guineas victory after Magna Grecia’s success in 2019. In such an open renewal Mustasaabeq looks more than capable of stepping up from his win here last month, when he could admittedly dictate in a four-runner field. However, the way he stormed clear beating Noble Dynasty by six lengths made the other runners look like they were in a different race. Mutasaabeq’s time was impressive, and he dipped under 11 seconds in the penultimate furlong. The step up to a mile is all good, the quick conditions are ideal, and this very exciting prospect can make it a three timer at Newmarket.

Unibet 11/2 win

Naval Crown for the inform Charlie Appleby is the most interesting of the bigger priced runners. He beat stablemate Master Of The Seas in Meydan over today’s trip in a Listed contest and then dropped back to seven furlongs at the Craven meeting to finish second to Tactical, after racing keenly at the head of affairs. Naval Crown certainly will come on for that run and returning to a mile will benefit him.

Unibet 50/1 each way

4.50 Newmarket – Newmarket Stakes Listed (1m 2f)

Mohaafeth looks an exciting prospect and can follow up on his success at the Craven meeting on Handicap debut. He looked really impressive on that occasion and this was a considerable step up from his win at Lingfield in March. On the ratings he has it to find with favourite Secret Protector, however he has some smart entries and there is plenty of improvement to come.

Unibet 100/30 win