ITV Racing Tips for 2000 Guineas Day at Newmarket

1:45 Newmarket

The first race live on ITV is a competitive 6f handicap.

The one I like is RABAAH (8/1) EW for the Charlie Hills stable. He is completely unexposed coming here on the back of just five career starts. He started his 2023 campaign with two decent AW wins before stepping up to listed class at Newbury next time. He was far from disgraced finishing 5th behind some Group level performers. However, it was his 5th on his next and last start that read really well. He stayed on finishing a never nearer 5th at York. That handicap has worked out remarkably well and this 4 year-old looks a lot better than a mark of 96. He’s been gelded over the winter which may also bring out further improvement.

 

2:05 Goodwood

We head to Goodwood for one race, the Conquerer Fillies Stakes, a listed race over the mile.

It’s CHOISYA (7/2) NB for me here. He went close on his seasonal return at Kempton going down by a head in a listed contest. He comes here off the same mark and arguably his performance of his career was here at Goodwood last August where he beat the re-opposing Novus and that has to be encouraging. The Crisford team have started the season slowly truth be told but I’d expect their runners to come on a fair chunk for their seasonal returns. Hopefully that is the case with the selection here. 

 

2:20 Newmarket

The 2:20 from HQ is the Suffolk Stakes, a handicap over 1m1f.

My selection here is DUTCH DECOY (7/1) EW. He has a good record here at the track that includes a decent 5th in this race last year. He was also a very respectable 6th in the competitive Cambridgeshire handicap last season. He put his reappearance effort well behind him to finish a very close second here last time out in a similar contest. His mark remains unchanged for this too. He’s a front runner so stall 1 looks ideal and Joe Fanning is a master from the front. I think he’ll hit the frame at least here.

 

2:40 Thirsk

The 2:40 at Thirsk is the always competitive renewal of the Thirsk Hunt Cup, a handicap over a mile.

It’s THUNDER ROAR (6/1) EW for me here. He deserves to land a decent prize like this and he comes here in solid form. He’s been placed on all three starts this season including a fine second in a competitive handicap at Doncaster on the second of those starts. I don’t think the race last time at Leicester was run to suit and this appears more his cup of tea. He’ll get a stronger pace to aim at and can come with usual late charge. Off the same mark of 83, he looks a solid selection in this open race.  

 

2.55 Newmarket 

It’s back to Newmarket for the 2:55, the Palace House Stakes, a Group 3 contest over the minimum 5 furlongs.

I do like MITBAAHY (3/1) NAP in this. Previously win Roger Varian, he ran to a decent level last season but he’s now moved to the Charlie Hills stable. Charlie Hills is a master at training sprinters and I’d be confident he can bring out further improvement in this 5 year-old. He made his debut for the stable last week and finished a very eye-catching 4th coming from off the pace. I expect he’ll come on for that outing and prove good enough to land this Group 3 contest under Jamie Spencer.

 

3:35 Newmarket 

The feature is the final race on ITV, the Group 1 Qipco 2000 Guineas over the mile.

City Of Troy is going to be tough to beat but the race has a decent each-way look to it. The one for me is ALYANAABI (18/1) EW. Trained by Owen Burrows, he’s no stranger to big race success and he’s more than capable of getting his horses spot on when fresh. The horse was last seen chasing him the favourite in the Dewhurst here last season. He stayed on well that day suggesting this step up to the mile will really suit. I think he’ll be chasing home the favourite again here and if the favourite does under perform. He can take advantage. The stable has started the season strongly and the horse has form on all ground so what the weather does shouldn’t be any concern.

 

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