Megan Nicholls Racing Tips: Newmarket 2000 Guineas

BetMGM ambassador Megan Nicholls gives her thoughts on the horse racing world, bringing her insightful opinions and first-rate knowledge exclusively to our blog every week.

This time the former jockey – now a celebrated TV pundit – gives us her take ahead of a huge weekend of flat racing at Newmarket, including the 2000 Guineas and Suffolk Stakes, as well as the pick of the action at Goodwood and Thirsk.

Check out her selections below.

SATURDAY RACING TIPS

Goodwood 2.05 – Conqueror Stakes

Orchard Bloom(7/2) for me. It’s going to be very testing conditions down at Goodwood.

She’s handled the slow ground previously, winning at Newbury. She also ran well over in France in testing conditions too.

The yard of William Haggas is really starting to fire–they’ve had some nice winners over the last couple of days. I really think this filly can continue to progress.

The fact she likes this ground is a massive positive.

We could see plenty of non-runners, at Goodwood and tomorrow in general, with it being quite so testing.

But William Haggas could have another good day tomorrow. His fillies seem to be in very good form anyway, they’re performing well and I think Orchard Bloom, in particular, can progress and have a decent season.

Megan’s Tip: Orchard Bloom WIN

Newmarket 2.20 – Suffolk Stakes

Theoryofeverything (13/2) is likely to improve from his first start since joining David O’Meara.

He ran a huge race on his stable debut having been gelded and is a horse that was thought plenty of by the Gosdens when trained by them.

I think the step up in trip will definitely be a positive for him and I think he’ll have improved stripped fitter. He’s the type of horse that O’Meara tends to do extremely well with.

Megan’s Tip: Theoryofeverything WIN

Thirsk 2.40 – Hunt Cup

Another trainer who has a great start to the season is Jack Shannon and I fancy his horse Hiromichi (7/1) here.

He’s well drawn, which can be important around Thirsk. They will go a good gallop.

This horse is really going well at the moment, he seems to be getting better with every run. I think he’s got enough cruising speed to hold a good position, which is important in this race – they really do go at a strong gallop.

I just think the yard form and the horse’s form, combined with a good draw, keeps this fairly simple and I could see the track suiting him.

He’s gone well round a bend before and I can see him settling nicely off a strong pace and finishing well.

Megan’s Tip: Hiromichi WIN

Newmarket 2.55 – Palace House Stakes

I am going with Mitbaahy (3/1 fav).

He recently joined Charlie Hills from Roger Varian. He’s a decent horse and has run well at group level previously and he ran very well over six furlongs here last time when he was running on quite nicely having been held up.

He likes to pass horses but the drop back to the five furlongs suits him and a stronger pace certainly helps. He will be trying to play his cards fairly late.

I like the chances of Mitbaahy to take a step forward from his recent reappearance run.

Megan’s Tip: Mitbaahy WIN

Newmarket 3.35 – 2000 Guineas

Obviously City Of Troy (8/13) is the short-priced favourite–he was very impressive last season and I’m looking for to seeing him physically and whether he’s grown or not.

He wasn’t a massive two-year-old but obviously it’s been talked about plenty that his work continues to be very impressive.

I am very much looking forward to seeing Ghostwriter (14/1), who is a pretty smart horse. His trainer, Clive Cox, thinks a lot of him. He’s done very little wrong. I just think he was a monster of a two-year-old and he’s going to be a big horse this year.

He could improve further. I think he goes with a massive chance and if I were to look away from City Of Troy, he would be my selection.

Megan’s Tip: City Of Troy WIN, Ghostwriter EW

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation