Jim Crowley: ‘We don’t know how good Mutasaabeq is and that’s very exciting.’

Coral ambassador Jim Crowley previews his rides on 2000 Guineas Day at Newmarket

Our man Jim Crowley looks ahead to his five rides rides on Saturday, including Mutasaabeq in the 2000 Guineas.

Jim rides Maydanny in the 13:50 at Newmarket

My first ride on Qipco 2000 Guineas day, Maydanny, is making his seasonal reappearance.

He disappointed a little bit towards the end of last season, I can forgive him the York run because the ground was too soft for him, and the run before that he absolutely bolted up at Goodwood.  I couldn’t do the weight that day, and the handicapper hiked him up for that win, so that may have played a part in his two defeats also.

I think he’ll run very well fresh, and he’s a horse I still like a lot. He’s beautifully bred – by Dubawi out of Attraction – and normally you’d say that Dubawis enjoy a bit of cut in the ground, but this fellow has never run his best when there’s been some juice in the ground, so the fast ground here should suit him, and I can see him running very well.

Jim rides Al Zaraqaan in the 15:00 at Newmarket

Only five go in the Jockey Club Stakes, but it’s a tight little contest where a case could be made for them all.

Al Zaraqaan has a bit to find with the likes of Pyledriver on official ratings, but he’s a horse [trainer] William Haggas likes, and having won his last four, he deserves to take this step up into pattern company.

I’ve ridden him in work, he’s in good form, he’s had a run this season, and I’d be hopeful of a big run from him, the ground will suit and this will tell us where we are with him.

Jim rides Mutasaabeq in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at 15:40

I was delighted when Sheikh Hamdan’s family took the decision to supplement Mutasaabeq for the Qipco 2000 Guineas. Sheikh Hamdan was a great sportsman, and this colt was bred by him, out of his 1000 Guineas winner Ghanaati, so it would be incredibly poignant if we could win this race.

He was so impressive when he won at Newmarket last time out, we go there as the least exposed horse in the field. We know he’s good but we don’t yet know how good he might be, and that’s very exciting. I’m happy where we’re drawn, he’s an uncomplicated ride, he can go forward or he can drop in, he’s not one dimensional. He’s also proven how well he handles ‘the dip’ at Newmarket, which is another big positive.

It’s a wide open race, and again a case can be made for seven, eight of these. Wembley has emerged as favourite this week, and Ballydoyle runners always have to be respected in this race, while Thunder Moon can be excused his defeat in the Dewhurst as the ground may have been too soft for him that day. Master Of The Seas looked good when winning the Craven, while I also like the look of Mr Bolger’s runner [Poetic Flare], he looks a big improver.

However, as I still don’t know how good my fellow is, I’m sure the others will be looking at us and wondering the same thing. I’ve been down to sit on him since his last win, and was very happy with him, so this is a very exciting ride to look forward to. I certainly wouldn’t swap him for anything, and as I say, it would be very special to win this for the boss and his family. He’s bred for the job, and I believe if he’s good enough, he’ll win.

Jim rides Raaeb in the 16:15 at Newmarket

This looks a nice ride to pick up for Godolphin, he won well last time out, that was on the Chelmsford all-weather but he has won on turf as well.

That was on his first start as a 2-y-o, on his second run he was runner-up behind Kinross at Newmarket, so he does have some experience of the track.

He’s got plenty of speed, this six furlongs trip seems to suit him, so if he can handle the going he could run a nice race.

Jim rides Mohaafeth in the 16:50 at Newmarket

This son of Frankel won very well at the track last time out, and with a rating of 92 we still don’t know how good he is. We could have stuck to handicaps with him, but have stepped him up in class to find out more about him.

If he ran well here his Derby entry could come into the reckoning. He’s a big, strong, imposing type, he’ll bounce of this quick ground, and I’m hoping he runs well as he’s a horse I really like.

Jim

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