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Here Comes the Hot Stepper!
No sooner have we bid farewell and a happy retirement to AP McCoy, than it is the first Classic of the season at Newmarket's Rowley Mile.
Thank goodness the first two Classics have finally arrived - I was beginning to wonder who was going to run? That's my pocket speaking, as its considerably lighter courtesy of Ervedya not making the trip across from France on Sunday.
Gleneagles heads the betting in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas. Fair play to all of you that got fancy prices ante post - I hope you manoeuvre financially favourably.
It is value-seeking for me, and my hunt has led me to Kool Kompany and Moheet who were first and third respectively in the Craven Stakes.
The latter caught the eye slowly getting into stride in the final stages so a mile is bound to benefit.
Changes are always going to court scepticism and in this case I make reference to the change in Newmarket's course layout.
11/1 Gleneagles to win the 2000 Guineas
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The stalls will move from the centre of the course to the stands’ side rail and the running rail brought in three metres, which will cut away three furlongs out.
When the news broke of the changes there was not even a ripple of discontent yet, perhaps inevitably, on the eve of the race doubt has crept in.
It is never ideal when races split into groups and those contests often leave connections and punters alike angst ridden with "if onlys."
Some bookmakers are giving due respect to those drawn high, nearest to the stand side rail, feeling those in a single-figure stall may be at a slight disadvantage.
Come 3.45 Saturday all will unravel - here's to a clean exhilarating and thrilling 2000 Guineas.
Tanya Stevenson's Saturday tips:
2.30 Newmarket: Stepper Point
3.45 Newmarket: Moheet each-way
Tanya Stevenson's Saturday pointers:
2.00 Newmarket - Makfi Suffolk Stakes:
All ten winners were drawn 10 or lower.
Eight of the last ten winners carried 8st 10lbs or more.
All winners have been 12-1 or shorter.
The last nine favourites have all been beaten.
All but one winner was aged four or five.
2.30 Newmarket - Palace House Stakes:
Seven of the last ten winners were from the first four in the betting.
Eight of the last ten winners were aged five or younger.
Seven of the last ten came no worse than third on their most recent run.
Eight of the last ten came from a single figure stall.
Sixteen of the last 20 winners were single-figure prices.
3.05 Newmarket - Dunaden At Overbury Jockey Club Stakes
Sir Michael Stoute has won the race on seven occasions, first back in 1983 with Electric, most recent last year with Gospel Choir.
Five of the last ten winners were favourite, and none of the last ten winners were priced bigger than 15-2.
Seven of the last ten winners finished in the first three on their most recent run.
3.45 Newmarket - Qipco 2000 Guineas:
The last five winners were unbeaten during their two-year-old campaign.
Nine of the last ten winners finished no worse than third at two.
Five of the last ten winners had run at Newmarket as a two-year-old.
Three of the last four favourites have obliged.
Eight of the last ten winners had won on their first racecourse start.
Aidan O’Brien has won the 2000 Guineas six times.
Irish raiders have won the 2000 Guineas eight times since 2000.
Four of the last five winners came into the race unbeaten.
Eight of the last ten winners had won at least a Group 3 previously.
Seven of the last ten winners had won on their most recent run.
Eight of the last ten winners had won over at least seven furlongs previously, only three had won over a mile.
