Elarqam can upset Ballydoyle duo in 2,000 Guineas

Saturday racing preview including six tips

The flat racing season kicks into high gear this Saturday with the first of the season’s British Classics, the 2,000 Guineas.

Newmarket hosts the majority of the day’s live racing on ITV with Ed Chamberlin and crew parked up at the Suffolk venue.

The Coral News Team pick apart three of the key storylines and provide tips on all six live races…

Elar-Can

The big race of the day is obviously the 2,000 Guineas and what a race we have in store. Any one of the first seven runners has a legitimate chance of winning.

Aidan O’Brien’s star duo of Gustav Klimt and Saxon Warrior head the betting. And the pair arguably deserves their places there, too.

But there are dangers lurking behind and Mark Johnston’s Elarqam has caught the eye. The trading department have reported solid money for him all week and that’s aided the feeling.

The three-year-old has won on both juvenile starts and was highly impressive in winning the Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket last September.

The son of Frankel looks a high-quality operator and can further prove his class here under Jim Crowley.

Third Time Lucky?

The Spring Lodge Stakes looks another highly-competitive handicap with up to 16 runners involved.

And the Coral News Team have a slight fancy for Third Time Lucky as a lovely-looking each-way punt. Richard Fahey’s colt has had a busy old time of it this season but he could be well-primed here.

The six-year-old runs off an advantageous mark of 93, coming down from 106 in April last year. He ran really well last time out, finishing sixth to Taqdeer in the Spring Cup at Newbury.

He won the Cambridgeshire in 2015 here, and followed it up a year later with a fourth-place. Could he snatch a place or even go one better today?

Havana win?

Normally the Longholes Palace House Stakes takes in a big field. But this year, only nine runners are involved.

And that should suit our fancy Havana Grey nicely in this 5f sprint. Karl Burke’s three-year-old is an absolute flyer and will take some stopping here.

The three-year-old had a fine season last year including a Group 3 win at Goodwood, followed by two narrow defeats in Group 1 and Group 2 races, respectively.

He’ll also get a 9lbs allowance from top weight Alpha Delphini and once he’s progressed well over the winter, he’s primed for a big win here.

ITV Racing Tips:

1:50 Newmarket – Third Time Lucky e/w

2:05 Goodwood – What A Home

2:20 Newmarket – Havana Grey

2:40 Goodwood – Donncha

2:55 Newmarket – Defoe

3:35 Newmarket  – Elarqam

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing