Horse Racing
Season
2,000 Guineas Stakes – Form Comments
G1 – 1600m – Turf
| 1 | Cardsharp | Very busy and arguably underestimated at two, winning four of his ten starts and finishing placed in a G1 and three G2’s. However he flopped on heavy ground at Deauville on his 2018 return plus there must be stamina concerns over this testing 1600m trip. |
| 2 | Elarqam | Justified strong betting support when winning over 1400m at York last September, easily beating three next-time-out winners. Pitched into G3 company at Newmarket 18 days later he took time to get on top but his powerful stride resulted in another stylish win. A live contender who should appreciate the rise to 1600m. |
| 3 | Expert Eye | Looked a potential star after winning his first two starts, waltzing clear of his rivals in a 1400m Goodwood G2 last August. He then ran a shocker in a G1 here in October but partially redeemed his reputation with a close second to James Garfield at Newbury (G3) last month despite racing too keenly. |
| 4 | Gustav Klimt | Facing a high-class field for a 1400m Leopardstown Listed contest on his return last month, he came smoothly from the back to win very stylishly. He handled the heavy ground as well as he had handled fast ground when winning a Newmarket G2 last July. Looks a worth 2,000 Guineas favourite. |
| 5 | Headway | A late surge saw him come close to a shock win in a 1200m G2 at Royal Ascot last June. Looked to be in a hopeless position 200m out in a 1401m all-weather Listed event on his 2018 return at Lingfield but accelerated dramatically to grab the money. |
| 6 | James Garfield | Raced over distances between 1000m and 1600m at two, including a 1200m G2 victory at Newbury. Back at Newbury over 1400m, he made an excellent 2018 return when toughing it out with six rivals to win a prestigious G3. But yet to really prove himself at 1600m. |
| 7 | Masar | Didn’t show anything on the Meydan dirt on his first 2018 start but stormed into the Guineas picture with a very impressive G3 winning performance over Saturday’s course and distance last month. He set off in front at a moderate gallop but then appeared to quicken twice and the winning margin was 9L. |
| 8 | Murillo | He’s a big scopey colt but he hasn’t run for 308 days and looks very much the third string of the O’Brien trio. Third in G2’s at Royal Ascot and The Curragh on his last two starts -both over 1200m. His pedigree gives him chances of lasting this longer trip. |
| 9 | Nebo | Only a head behind likely Guineas favourite Gustav Klimt in a 1400m G2 at Newmarket last July. Other good 2017 efforts followed but he didn’t really fire when only sixth in a 1400m Listed handicap here last month. Stamina concerns also at this 1600m trip. |
| 10 | Raid | A 1202m soft ground maiden winner on his only start last season. Wearing a hood, he was behind some of today’s rivals when fourth in a 1400m G3 at Newbury last month, just tiring at the end. Improvement expected, especially on preferred slow ground. |
| 11 | Rajasinghe | Did well last season for his up and coming trainer notably when winning a fast-ground G2 at Royal Ascot – delivering a sustained challenge to beat 17 rivals. However his last two 2017 efforts were disappointing and major pedigree worries about his stamina for 1600m. |
| 12 | Roaring Lion | Only defeat as a two-year-old came when failing by a neck to hold the rallying Saxon Warrior in a G1 over this distance at Doncaster last October. Sure to be sharper now but still a disappointing favourite when 9 1/4L third to Masar in a G3 over this course and distance last month. |
| 13 | Saxon Warrior | Has won all three starts and can already boast G1 winning credentials over this distance. Always prominent in that Doncaster highlight last October, he led about 450m out and rallied bravely when headed. All his wins came on a slow surface but his trainer insists he’ll be even better on quicker ground. |
| 14 | Tip Two Win | Plenty of good two-year-old efforts and finished well when runner-up to Elarqam in a 1400m Newmarket G3. Has since been cleverly placed, winning two nice prizes at Doha, Qatar, latterly over this distance. Has got a big heart but this physically small colt will probably struggle here. |
Others
06/05/2018
04/05/2018
04/05/2018
04/05/2018
04/05/2018
