Newmarket Guineas Festival Day 1 Tips
The first Classics of the British Flat season will take place at Newmarket this weekend, with a competitive card to enjoy on Friday beforehand, featuring the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes (3.30) over 1m4f for older horses.
There are seven races in all at Newmarket on Friday and we have selected our best bets.
13.45 - Maiden Fillies' Stakes
Of those with experience the standard is set by William Haggas' EARTH SHOT, who made eye-catching progress to finish runner up over a mile at Newbury on her debut and she is very much bred to appreciate this step up in trip. Velvet Vega and Wild Violet are well bred fillies representing top connections.
Selection: Earth Shot
14:20 - Newmarket Stakes
POSEIDON'S WARRIOR is the one to beat based on his good second in this grade on his seasonal debut last time. The extra furlong is only a positive on that evidence and the yard has an excellent record in his contest. Lyneham lacks a recent run but he looked like a useful prospect last season and is the type to improve this year.
Selection: Poseidon's Warrior
14:55 - Handicap
A highly competitive handicap with nine three-year-olds going to post, with the likes of Zennor Storm, Objector and Fort Rock all bringing unbeaten profiles into the race. However, the eye is drawn to the sole maiden in the race, ST ATON, who has progressed with each start and he lines up from the same as when narrowly denied over course and distance on his seasonal return.
Selection: St Anton
15:30 - Jockey Club Stakes
Bay City Roller is clear on ratings and added a Group 1 to his name last season. However, he is penalised here and may not be as well suited by the quick conditions. A chance is taken on SUNWAY, who was in good form in Dubai this winter with his latest effort is easily forgiven. He proved he can handle this drop in trip when fourth in a strong Hardwicke Stakes on fast ground last year.
Selection: Sunway
16:05 - Handicap
Top-weighted ELARAK may be up to defying his mark of 103 with the benefit of his seasonal debut behind him. This dual course winner is well suited to Newmarket and enjoyed the drop back to 7f when an impressive winner of a handicap at this track to end his three-year-old season. He has been gelded over the winter and shaped as if he would improve from his fourth-place effort at Thirsk last time.
Selection: Elarak
16:40 - King Charles II Stakes
Saber Strike marked himself down as one to follow when winning over 6f on debut last season, he has an entry in the Commonwealth Cup and is of interest if coping with the step up in trip. However, he lacks race fitness, so the choice goes to CERRO BLANCO, who looked really exciting when overcoming some trouble in running to make a winning start over this course and distance.
Selection: Cerro Blanco
17:15 - Fillies' Handicap
PARADISE WALK brings an unexposed profile to this competitive 13-runner handicap over 6f. She has shown ability in a trio of qualifying runs and could find some improvement for the switch to handicaps from a fair opening mark, with blinkers applied for the first time.
Selection: Paradise Walk
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
