Steve Ryder previews every runner for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, with 11 horses confirmed for Saturday’s classic.
2000 Guineas 2025
The British classic season commences at Newmarket this Saturday.
The highlight of the Betfred Guineas Festival, the 2000 Guineas remains elusive for John and Thady Gosden, but they field the leading contender this year.
Field Of Gold emerged as the ante-post favourite after triumphing in the Craven Stakes, aiming to surpass his sire Kingman’s runner-up finish in 2014 for the same team.
A total of 11 runners have been confirmed for Saturday’s contest.
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2000 Guineas Runners & Riders
Field Of Gold (Kieran Shoemark)
Secured the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown last year before placing fourth in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on soft ground. Made an impressive return, dominating the Group 3 Craven Stakes over this course and distance, making him a strong market leader.
Scorthy Champ (Dylan Browne McMonagle)
Raced three times over 7f on good ground, winning twice. Finished third, two lengths behind Henri Matisse, in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes, then overturned that form to win the Group 1 National Stakes in his final outing last season.
Shadow Of Light (Mickael Barzalona)
Claimed victory in four of five juvenile starts, including two Group 1s at Newmarket. Won the Middle Park by four lengths and edged out Expanded by a neck in the Dewhurst Stakes over 7f on soft ground.
Ruling Court (William Buick)
Fetched 2,300,000 euros at a breeze-up sale before a 5½-length debut win at Sandown. Placed third behind The Lion In Winter in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes, then won the listed Jumeirah 2000 Guineas in Meydan this season. With Coroebus winning as a ‘second string’ in 2022, he’s one to watch, especially with last year's winner Buick aboard.
Expanded (Ryan Moore)
Won on debut over 7f at the Curragh, then finished a neck second in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket just a week later.
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Green Impact (Shane Foley)
Defeated the promising Delacroix twice last season, including in the Group 2 Champions Juvenile Stakes over a mile at Leopardstown. Jessie Harrington opted for this Wootton Bassett colt over Group 1 winner Hotazhell, a promising sign.
Wimbledon Hawkeye (Harry Davies)
Upset at 28/1 to win on debut at Kempton, then performed well in group races across five subsequent starts. Won the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes over this course and distance on soft ground and was a solid second to Field Of Gold in the Craven Stakes on reappearance.
Seagulls Eleven (Tom Marquand)
A 112-rated colt by Galileo Gold, who won this race in 2016. Finished third, just 1½ lengths behind Scorthy Champ, in the Group 1 National Stakes, then fourth behind Shadow Of Light in the Dewhurst Stakes. Struggled in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, finishing 7¼ lengths behind Henri Matisse.
Yah Mo Be There (Jamie Spencer)
Narrowly beaten by a short head on debut at York, then faded in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes. Broke his maiden in a listed race at Newbury and placed fifth behind Jonquil in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes on return.
Tornado Alert (Silvestre de Sousa)
Came third on debut at Lingfield, then won a mile maiden at Newcastle in October last year. Despite Saeed Bin Suroor’s recent lack of classic runners, his 2023 1000 Guineas win with Mawj is noteworthy.
Benevento (David Egan)
Won on debut at Yarmouth for Dominic French Davis, then took the listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster under Raphael Freire. Finished fourth in the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes on heavy ground and again in the Craven Stakes behind Field Of Gold.
2000 Guineas Winners & Betting Trends
This race has produced elite milers like Frankel, Dawn Approach, and Gleneagles, while also serving as a Derby trial for horses like Camelot and Sea The Stars, who won both races, and others like Australia, Auguste Rodin, and City Of Troy, who won the Derby after defeat here.
- 21 of the last 23 winners had a victory over at least 7f.
- 20 of the last 23 winners had won a group race.
- 18 of the last 23 winners were successful in their previous race.
- 15 of the last 23 winners were making their seasonal debut.
- 14 of the last 23 winners had two or three career wins.
- Nine of the last 23 winners were trained by Aidan O’Brien.
2000 Guineas Tips
The ante-post favourite Field Of Gold and Ruling Court under last year's winning jockey William Buick combine for nearly 50% of the bets on the 2000 Guineas winner market through oddschecker since final declarations were made on Thursday.
However, Steve Ryder has been with Wimbledon Hawkeye since siding with him ante-post at 33/1 (now a best price 20/1) on Thursday 24th April. This is what he had to say:
In 2014, Night Of Thunder overturned trial form to defeat Kingman, and I’m backing WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE (advised at 33/1) to repeat the feat.
Sired by 2020 winner Kameko, he stunned at 28/1 on debut at Kempton, then ran a close third in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket’s July course. He split The Lion In Winter and Ruling Court (now much shorter in the betting) in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York, before winning the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes over this course and distance.
On his fifth start of 2024, he was third in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy behind Hotazhell. In the Craven Stakes, Harry Davies rode him sympathetically once Field Of Gold passed him. He’s proven on fast ground, over a mile, and on the Rowley Mile, making him excellent value against rivals with more uncertainties.
