A complete runner-by-runner guide and betting tips for today's 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
15:35 Newmarket
The 2000 Guineas is the first of five classics in the British flat season, with Aidan O’Brien’s City Of Troy the short-priced favourite for the race.
Will the undefeated star hand his trainer a record-extending 11th win in the race, or will someone else emerge from the pack? Let’s assess each of the 11 declared runners!
2000 Guineas Runners & Riders Guide
1. Alyanaabi
- Trainer: Owen Burrows
- Jockey: Jim Crowley
- Form: 1412
- Odds: 18/1
This son of Too Darn Hot won very nicely on his debut at Salisbury last June before finishing an eye-catching fourth in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot. Richard Hannon’s Rosallion finished in front of him on that occasion, but he made some late progress to be nearest the finish.
He then improved significantly to claim the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes at this course next time, and he did very well to overcome traffic difficulties and win a shade comfortably prior to a solid second-place finish in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes. He could improve for the extra furlong, but he has work to do to reverse form with the first and second favourites.
2. City Of Troy
- Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- Form: 111
- Odds: 8/11
The long-time market leader. He is the one they all have to beat, given that he's the top-rated runner in the field. He was unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile, which culminated with a three-and-a-half-length victory in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
In both of his wins at HQ, he’s made Haatem look ordinary, and the latter subsequently bolted up in the Group 3 Craven Stakes. Based on that evidence, we are clearly dealing with a top-class horse who should improve for the step up to a mile. Hard to oppose.
3. Ghostwriter
- Trainer: Clive Cox
- Jockey: Richard Kingscote
- Form: 111
- Odds: 16/1
Clive Cox has a big player in the shape of this unbeaten son of Invincible Spirit. He impressed on his debut at Newmarket before following up at Ascot, despite that race not working out well.
However, it was his latest performance that marked him down as a potential candidate for this race, having beaten a good field in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes over course and distance.
He has the potential to stay further in time but his handler has stated that he will be in top shape ahead of his trip to HQ, and his course form can obviously be seen as an advantage.
4. Haatem
- Trainer: Richard Hannon
- Jockey: James Doyle
- Form: 19551
- Odds: 28/1
This stablemate of Rosallion was last seen returning as a three-and-a-half-length winner of the Craven Stakes over the same course and distance. The winner of that race is predominantly prominent towards the top of the betting for this race, but by contrast, especially his teammate, that isn’t the case.
Last season’s Vintage Stakes winner began to look exposed before his personal best effort on his return last time out. However, his handler has been talking more positively about Rosallion, and having twice been well beaten by City Of Troy, I’m not sure he’s good enough to turn the form around in spite of showing substantial improvement last time out.
5. Iberian
- Trainer: Charlie Hills
- Jockey: Tom Marquand
- Form: 1216
- Odds: 33/1
This son of Lope De Vega did very well at two, winning two of his four starts, including a defeat of Rosallion in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.
He wasn’t so good when he was only sixth in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes last time out when sent off as the second favourite to City Of Troy, but he could bounce back.
However, this is a tough race to do so, and a place might be the best he can hope for on his return. He’s probably best watched on his first try over a mile.
6. Inisherin
- Trainer: Kevin Ryan
- Jockey: Tom Eaves
- Form: 21
- Odds: 40/1
Kevin Ryan had the runner-up in this race last year (High Royal), so he will have an incline as to where this Sharmadal Colt ranks amongst his crop, and he’s clearly well thought of, hence why he’s taking up this assignment instead of an easier task elsewhere.
He confirmed the promise of his debut second to emphatically open his account at Newcastle when last spotted. He has the potential to develop into a pattern-class performer, but he has plenty to find with these.
7. Night Raider
- Trainer: Karl Burke
- Jockey Daniel Tudhope
- Form: 11
- Odds: 18/1
Trainer Karl Burke has yet to train the winner of this race, but he has a fascinating participant this time around with this son of Dark Angel. He has gained both of his wins on the all-weather at Southwell over seven furlongs but has won them by a combined 14 lengths without coming out of second gear.
This will be a whole different kettle of fish, but he’s a promising prospect, and the fact that his handler is willing to pitch him into the deep end on his turf debut does bode very well for how highly he’s thought of. He is unexposed, with a lot more to come, and could exceed market expectations.
8. Notable Speech
- Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- Jockey: William Buick
- Form: 111
- Odds: 11/1
This son of Dubawi has had a very outlandish preparation for this, having done all of his racing on the all-weather at Kempton to date, but he’s won all three starts over the same course and distance. He is open to improvement, but he will need it, as his form is much inferior when compared to the two above him in the market.
Charlie Appleby did, however, win this race two years ago, so he will have an incline as to how this horse ranks amongst his milers, and the fact that he will be making his turf debut in a race as deep as this does make him a fascinating runner.
He’s already displayed a fine turn of foot in each of his victories, and unlike his two main market rivals, he’s proven himself over the distance.
9. Rosallion
- Trainer: Richard Hannon
- Jockey: Sean Levey
- Form: 1131
- Odds: 6/1
It’s been 10 years since Richard Hannon claimed his first win in the race courtesy of Night Of Thunder, but he’s had numerous runners make the frame since and has a big player in the form of this son of Blue Point. He’s won three of his four starts, and if you go back and watch his win in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes, he actually beat Alyanaabi by more than City Of Troy did in the Dewhurst.
He failed to shine when only third on the Champagne Stakes next time but showed his true colours when a dominant winner of the Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in France. He recorded a quick time from a wide draw, and his handler is very bullish about his chances and has continued to talk very highly of him. There’s every chance he will serve it up to the favourite.
10. Task Force
- Trainer: Ralph Beckett
- Jockey: Rossa Ryan
- Form: 112
- Odds: 25/1
Ralph Beckett’s charge is related to Guineas winners, and having won his first two starts last season, he then ran a cracker to finish second to Vandeek in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.
He’s reported to be in different shape this season, having shown signs of greenness last term, and with the step up to a mile sure to bring about improvement, he could run a big race. Not one to write off.
11. Ten Bob Tony
- Trainer: Ed Walker
- Jockey: Saffie Osborne
- Form: 45161
- Odds: 80/1
Improved out of all recognition to win at the Craven meeting, and this trip should suit, but that latest form wouldn’t be good enough to trouble the majority of these.
His aggressive style of racing will see him show up for a chunk of the race, but he will do well to even place, let alone win. He has a difficult task on his hands.
2000 Guineas Tips & Predictions
The hot-favourite City Of Troy could blow this field apart. However, his price doesn’t interest me in the slightest, and I will be taking him on with two promising representatives from Britain who are both undefeated and seem overpriced.
The first one is the Clive Cox-trained GHOSTWRITER (tipped at 16/1) who is reported to be in tremendous shape and has done all that has been asked of him on a racecourse, including when he bagged a Group 2 win over course and distance in September.
There’s no doubt he would be a lot shorter in the betting if this were an ordinary year, and the plan was to always go straight for this race since he was last seen. He has good cruising speed, has the gears, and has the course form. He is the most appealing each-way option against the market leader.
Ghostwriter, 0.5 pts E/W, 16/1
Karl Burke’s NIGHT RAIDER (tipped at 16/1) also possesses loads of potential and ability, and his handler has stated that he’s never seen a horse work better than him. He has a high cruising speed and has plenty of gears, as displayed in both of his wins to date.
He has yet to race on the turf, but there’s every chance he will be even better on it, and his trainer is confident of his chances. This is a big step up in class, but if he were trained by Aidan O’Brien, he would be nearly favourite. I think he has all of the attributes to run a huge race.
