2000 Guineas - Saturday 14:40 Newmarket

2000 Guineas 2023 Runners Guide

1. Auguste Rodin

  • Trainer: Aidan O’ Brien
  • Jockey: Ryan Moore
  • Odds: 15/8
  • Form: 2111

 

A brilliant winner of the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes on his final start last season, Aidan O’Brien’s charge has been a strong favourite for this race ever since. The form of his final success has taken a couple of boosts as well, as the second Epictetus won a Listed event at Epsom, while the fourth Dancing Magic ran well when third in the Craven Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien is the most decorated trainer in the history of the race, winning it a monumental 10 times, and this top-class three-year-old should have plenty more to come this season and has excellent claims of making it win number 11 for the Irish champion trainer. He has stamina and speed in his pedigree and should cope with demands of the course. 

2. Chaldean 

  • Trainer: Andrew Balding
  • Jockey: Frankie Dettori
  • Odds: 15/2
  • Form: 1111U

 

Last season’s Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes winner was expected to make a winning return in the Greenham Stakes when sent off favourite but after being slightly hampered as the stalls opened, Frankie Dettori slipped off him within seconds later. An unfortunate start to his campaign.

However, that incident does not define how well he did last season, winning four in succession and twice beat subsequent Craven Stakes winner, Indestructible. The step up in trip should unlock further improvement, he has course-winning form and is ground versatile. He is surely a major player. 

3. Charyn 

  • Trainer: Roger Varian
  • Jockey: Tom Marquand
  • Odds: 50/1
  • Form: 12312

 

He was campaigned over mostly six-furlongs last season, winning once and placing twice, including in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes before landing the Group 2 Criterium De Maisons-Laffitte in France on his final start of the season. 

He made a solid return to action in the Greenham Stakes when second, despite proving no match for Isaac Shelby in the closing stages. He could benefit from the step up to a mile but while he is consistent, he does need to improve on the numbers to trouble a few of these. 

4. Dubai Mile

  • Trainer: Charlie Johnston 
  • Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
  • Odds: 40/1
  • Form: 41121

 

A notable improver last season for team Johnston, who improved from his debut fourth at Redcar to conclude his campaign with a career-best success in the Group 1 Crit.st-cloud at Saint-Cloud. 

He won three of his five starts in total and was a half-a-length second to The Foxes in the Royal Lodge Stakes over course-and-distance. On a line through the winner, he has a bit to find with Chaldean but could run well. 

5. Flight Plan 

  • Trainer: Karl Burke
  • Jockey: Daniel Tudhope
  • Odds: 80/1
  • Form: 512

 

Twice-raced last season, he took a step forward from his debut fifth at Leicester to open his account at Newcastle and went close on his reappearance in the Burradon Stakes, beaten just a neck by Dear My Friend. 

That form certainly wouldn’t be good enough to win this but he could outrun his odds to some extent. I am sure connections would be happy if he could finish in the first half of the field but he shouldn’t be good enough to win this race. Passed over. 

6. Galeron

  • Trainer: Charlie Hills 
  • Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
  • Odds: 100/1
  • Form: 66413

 

Gave five-pounds a beating to one of last season’s top fillies in Trillium at Goodwood and was highly-tried afterwards. He wasn’t disgraced in the Gimcrack and Doncaster’s big two-year-old race before winning the Goffs Million at the Curragh. 

He made a nice return in the Burradon Stakes at Newcastle when third but is another who needs to improve a lot on the bare figures to get involved. He is a decent horse but is surely out of this depth here given a few other participants have achieved more. 

7. Hi Royal 

  • Trainer: Kevin Ryan
  •  Jockey: Oisin Murphy
  • Odds: 150/1
  • Form: 314

 

Ran a screamer on debut behind Desert Order at York when a close-up third and improved to take the spoils at Ayr next time. He looked in need of his return behind Majestic Pride here last time and should be fitter this time. 

However, he is way down the pecking order in terms of official ratings being only rated 91. I cannot recollect a winner of this race to be rated that low beforehand, so he has his work cut out here. 

8. Holloway Boy 

  • Trainer: Karl Burke 
  • Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
  • Odds: 20/1
  • Form: 12233

 

Created a bit of history on debut at Royal Ascot by becoming the first horse for 26 years to win a race on debut at Royal Ascot, winning the Listed Chesham Stakes quite comfortably despite being sent off 40/1 as the outsider of the entire field. Has proved that was no fluke by placing in his next four starts, including when third to Auguste Rodin in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes. 

He would have finished closer had he of not hung badly when going well at one point. His shrewd handler has intentionally kept him fresh for this target, he ran well both times here last season and is another outsider that is worth a second look. Indestructible might be the number one for the yard but he is dangerous to rule out. 

9. Indestructible 

  • Trainer: Karl Burke 
  • Jockey: Kevin Stott
  • Odds: 25/1
  • Form: 51221

 

Made a winning stable debut at Windsor following a fifth of 16 on his only start in Ireland before twice chasing home Chaldean in Group 3 and Group 2 events. A return in the Craven Stakes saw him step up to a mile for the first time over course-and-distance and he succeeded in great style under a well-judged Kevin Stott ride.  

His success certainly opened up a can of worms in regards to having more options over a mile this season and what favours his chances, is he is the only one of the leading contenders with course-and-distance winning form under his belt. I am mindful of the fact that he can race keenly but he has plenty of natural class and holds leading claims. 

10. Little Big Bear 

  • Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
  • Jockey: Wayne Lordan
  • Odds: 5/1
  • Form: 21111

 

Last year’s top juvenile has not run since a setback prevented him from the opportunity to prove himself beyond sprint trips after his brilliant seven-length Phoenix Stakes win over six furlongs when brushing aside Persian Force. 

He has yet to run beyond six furlongs but he has hit the line strongly in each of his wins and there is a chance will improve for the mile despite his breeding suggesting otherwise. He is the top-rated horse in the field at 124 but that rating does seem inflated.

11. Noble Style 

  • Trainer: Charlie Appleby 
  • Jockey: James Doyle
  • Odds: 18/1
  • Form: 111

 

The son of Kingman was unbeaten in three starts in his juvenile campaign last term, who signed off a flawless season with an impressive victory in the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes at York in August. He beat some good horses on debut in Royal Scotsman and Walbank and won on the July course in between those two wins. 

His trainer won this race 12 months ago and this undefeated colt is interesting tackling a mile for the first time, as his finishing efforts have offered hope he will be fully effective over the distance. This race will require a new personal best but he hasn’t put a foot wrong so far in his career and is respected. 

12. Royal Scotsman 

  • Trainer: Paul Cole
  • Jockey: Jim Crowley
  • Odds: 17/2
  • Form: 413152

 

The Jim and Fitri Hay-owned son of Gleneagles has won two of his six starts last season and even broke the track record at Goodwood. A good third followed in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in what looked a deep renewal before gaining a smooth win in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes back at Goodwood. 

He kept on well from off the pace to be nearest the finish in fifth in the Gimcrack and concluded his season in the Dewhurst, where he chase home Chaldean on his first start over seven furlongs at Newmarket. He has been saved for the race ever since and, with more to come, connections will probably fancy their chances of reversing the form over this longer trip. 

13. Sakheer 

  • Trainer: Roger Varian 
  • David Egan
  • Odds: 9/1
  • Form: 211

 

Since returning a beaten favourite on debut when a half-a-length second at Windsor, this potential high-class prospect absolutely bolted up at Haydock next time and then made light work of a useful field in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes. He is another who has yet to tackle a mile but he has given every indication he’ll be suited to it and this has been his main objective. 

He is a smooth-traveller, who has a turn of foot and while an unsatisfactory scope meant Sakheer missed an intended appearance in the Dewhurst in October, he is in tip-top shape ahead of his big test. He is a quick horse but he's bred to get the trip, even beyond a mile, so if he does show all of his qualities over the longer trip, he is undoubtedly a leading candidate. 

14. Silver Knott 

  • Trainer: Charlie Appleby 
  • Jockey: William Buick
  • Odds: 12/1
  • Form: 411312

 

Another representative of Charlie Appleby, who ran a huge race when second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He had previously won over course-and-distance in the Group 3 Emirates Autumn Stakes, which is good form, and his win in the Group 3 Solario Stakes is reads well too. 

His experience of the course will count for plenty, like Indestructible, plus his latest defeat was a career-best effort. In fact, his two runs over a mile have been his best and he doesn’t have that much to find on official ratings either. He could be the each-way angle at a price for some and let’s not forget, he was sent off favourite to beat Chaldean and Indestructible at Sandown. 

2000 Guineas 2023 Tips & Prediction

Aidan O’Brien has the top two in the betting and will be looking to claim the race for an 11th time. However, I don’t think either Auguste Rodin or Little Big Bear represent much value at the odds and instead there is more appeal for CHALDEAN (best price 15/2), who has a great chance to redeem himself after his mishap last time. 

There is an element of him improving over a mile and he would have probably been shorter in the betting had he won last time on his comeback start. He is a Group 1 course winner, who has beaten Indestructible twice and also Silver Knott. He is a very good horse, so Andrew Balding’s charge is worth an interest against the Irish brigade. 

Roger Varian has specifically trained SAKHEER (best price 9/1) for the race and is another who could develop into a top-class miler this season and reportedly did a perfect piece of work on the Rowley Mile a couple of weeks ago. 

He was visually impressive in the Group 2 Mill Reef when last seen, as he showed a lovely turn of foot to power away from the remainder. With more to come, he could be the real deal, and I am quite optimistic about him running a big race. 

HOLLOWAY BOY (best price 20/1) also takes my interest at a price now the market has reformed while noticing most bookmakers are paying four places. Karl Burke’s Royal Ascot debutant winner held his form admirably well after his big success, placing in all of his next four starts. 

He was five lengths adrift of Auguste Rodin in the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes when third at Doncaster but that didn’t justify his actual performance as he hung across the track, giving away vital ground, which cost him at least second, in my opinion. 

Nevertheless, he stuck to the task well once headed and connections have deliberately kept him fresh for this since, which has primarily been the target. Christophe Soumillon is an interesting jockey booking and his mount could go very well at a double-figure price.