Racing Tips: Can Skardu upset the favourites in the 2000 Guineas?
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Saturday’s racing odds, tips and preview
The ITV racing cameras are heading down to Suffolk this weekend, which can only mean one thing. It’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
After early favourites Too Darn Hot and Calyx dropped out of the running for the showpiece race, Ten Sovereigns and Magna Grecia are the new frontrunners for the mile-long event, though there are a few in the field who could spring a surprise.
We’ve given our tip for the 2000 Guineas and previewed the other live races from today’s TV coverage…
Sergei Prokofiev may be the outright favourite for this race, but it’s hard to look away from El Astronaute. The six-year-old has run out winner over course and distance so has that familiarity to build on.
The John Quinn-trained gelding also has a good record in his last five showings, winning twice and placing twice. His win in York in August came on a Good to Firm course, which is what is expected at Newmarket, so he’s got valuable winning experience on the going.
He’ll face tough competition from Mabs Cross, who’s expected to run well over 5f, but we’re tipping El Astronaute to nab the victory in the Palace House Stakes.
While there are some viable options that could challenge this four-year-old favourite for the victory in the Goodwood May Food Festival Handicap, it’s still hard to look past Qaroun on current form.
A course and distance winner previously, also placing in his last three including a win at Kempton in October, he’s in mighty form going into this one.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained horse will be mounted by David Probert, who has jockeyed four of his previous six rides to place-finishes, including two wins.
Love Dreams could provide a worthy challenge, but we think Qaroun has just enough to hold off the rest of the field.
It’s two wins from two at present in the young career of Skardu. They’ve both come at this track, winning by 2L over Velorum in September, and winning by a neck in the Craven Stakes over Momkin in April.
The three-year-old colt still hasn’t reached his full potential either, but has impressed mightily in both showings so far. His Craven win came against three of the 2000 Guineas contenders too in Momkin, Set Piece and Royal Marine, so he’s got the beating of some of the field already.
James Doyle takes to the saddle on the William Haggas-trained colt, and we’ve got him as best placed to challenge the two early favourites over the distance.
ITV Racing Tips:
1:50 Newmarket – Al Muffrih
2:05 Goodwood – Klassique
2:20 Newmarket – El Astronaute
2:40 Goodwood – Qaroun
2:55 Newmarket – Young Rascal
3:35 Newmarket – Skardu
View the latest horse racing odds at Coral.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
