Our writer has seven selection's today including a tip in the 2000 Guineas.
Goodwood
13:20 - Havana Blue 5/2 1pt win
I was very taken with the victory of Harry Magnus at Newmarket last time out and HAVANA BLUE was the one who was closest to him at the finish. He was sent off favourite for that but shaped as if he may come on for the run, a trait that a lot of horses from Clive Cox’s stable have.
He has proved himself ground versatile already and with his old rival now a non-runner then he should be the one to beat. Hollie Doyle can hopefully make use of his fitness edge on his main market rival and I think he can improve on his current mark of 83 starting today.
Newmarket
14:50 - Blackrod 12/1 0.5pt ew
- Chairmanoftheboard 14/1 0.5pt ew
Newmarket sprint handicaps are as a tough as a nut to crack as any. pace can hold up some days, some days you can close. Some days low draws are good, other days high draws are good. I am not thinking about any of those factors with my pair against the field in BLACKROD and CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD.
The former, Blackrod takes a leap of faith as he not showed the ability he did with Michael Dods for a little while, but I am hopeful a return to Newmarket where he is a winner of both of his starts, including this contest last season. He is just 2lb above that last winning mark and Oisin Murphy is an eye-catching booking.
The latter, Chairmanoftheboard holds a more solid profile and has started the season in good form and I think his last run was very solid when he beat his side home over C&D, running against a draw bias that day. Jack Channon has put the cheekpieces on for the first time and he is still lurking on a very tempting mark of 88, if that can eek out a bit more improvement he should be able to go very close today.
Newmarket
15:25 - Majestic 11/2 1pt ew
I think the Lincoln was a strong renewal this year and MAJESTIC shaped nicely in the race when finishing 4th there, sticking on gamely in ground that would have been testing enough for him.
With improvement likely from that run too it would be a surprise if he did not factor at the venue of his biggest success so far. He posted a good time when winning the Cambridgeshire over C&D last year and he has everything you would like for a race like this and looks a rock solid each way bet.
Thirsk
15:40 - Northern Express 15/2 0.5pt ew
NORTHERN EXPRESS shaped well at Musselburgh in a race that has worked out well already, the winner has been 2nd since, the 2nd has finished 3rd at Newmarket, the 4th a winner since at Newmarket too. Northern Express fared best of the horses held up that day and he has to enter calculations today off the back of that run, the trip and ground will be sound for him and Michael Dods is finally beginning to find a few winners. This horse is not particularly well handicapped but he is consistent and looks likely to run a good race at a more than fair price.
Newmarket
16:00 - Twilight Calls 3/1 2pt win
There is no doubt in my mind that Henry Candy trains the best sprinter in this race in TWILIGHT CALLS and I would be hopeful that he is revved up to win this race after an unfortunate effort in the same race last year. This horse is also extremely good fresh having won on his reappearance in both of his prior seasons and that gives you more reason to think that he will be bang ready for this as connections will not want to waste an opportunity when he is so good fresh.
Although not seen since a career best 2nd in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot I still think he will take the beating here in a race which should set up perfectly for him with plenty of pace in the line up to track. Ryan Moore gets on for the first time too which has to be a positive too.
Newmarket
16:40 - Little Big Bear 4/1 1pt win
This year’s 2000 Guineas is such an intriguing renewal ranging from the favourite Auguste Rodin who will be aiming for the triple crown, to Little Big Bear who looked an unbelievably talented horse last year. The latter I mentioned there in LITTLE BIG BEAR is the one I am happy to take a chance on as I feel on pure ability he could the best horse in the race.
Aiden O’Brien’s horse showed so much speed as a 2 Year-Old that it is easy to doubt whether he will stay the trip, but his pedigree suggests that stamina will be no issue at all. The son of No Nay Never is a big beast of a horse and I just can’t get the performance from the G1 Phoenix Stakes out of my head where he pulverised the best sprinters in style, I think the price allows you to take a chance on stamina and if has improved over the winter we could witness something special today.
Ante Post
Royal Ascot - Commonwealth Cup
Noble Style 10/1 2pt win
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