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Elarqam
Elarqam

Ed Chamberlin 2000 Guineas preview and tips

Horse Racing
Fri May 04, 2018 · 7y ago

Ed Chamberlin looks ahead to a Classic weekend in Newmarket and has his best bets for the QIPCO 2000 and 1000 Guineas.

Ed's Guineas double

2
11
Elarqam219
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: C & M Johnston| OR:  -| C
5/1

4
2
Dan's Dream15
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: M R Channon| OR:  105
20/1

The horrendous spring weather and lack of recent racecourse evidence make both the QIPCO 2000 and 1000 Guineas very difficult to solve – but here’s my attempt!

Gustav Klimt could easily be the best of the lot in the 2000 and it’s rare for an Aidan O’Brien horse to win on his reappearance – as this son of Galileo did when reeling-in a race-fit Imaging to land the Ballyinch Stud trial at Leopardstown.

It’s impossible to know what the form is worth and bizarrely it could be a negative that he’s had that prep run.

I’m indebted to Steven Powell on Twitter who pointed out on Tuesday that none of O’Brien’s eight previous winners of the colts’ Classic had run before that season.

So is it significant that having been weak in the betting market over the weekend that the money has now arrived for Saxon Warrior? He strikes me as more of an Investec Derby type, especially on his Racing Post Trophy performance, but he’s a Group One winner with the potential to be better at three. Victory here would spark dreams of a potential Triple Crown too.

Masar looked brilliant in winning the Craven and trainer Charlie Appleby couldn’t be in better form right now but with Roaring Lion not at his best it’s hard to know what the form amounts to.

Expert Eye still has questions to answer and I can’t understand why he’s 8/1 and Newbury conqueror James Garfield 16/1 – but the horse I like is ELARQAM.

Elarqam limbered up in a racecourse gallop at Newmarket

If there’s a star miler in the field then I think its this colt. I was at Tattersalls the day he was sold as a yearling and have followed his career closely since. He was impressive in taking his Group Three at Newmarket in the autumn and is bred to win this being a son of Frankel and Attraction. He’s a real chip off the old block in terms of his dam and connections have been delighted with his preparation.

The Johnston team can get one ready at home and he's my idea of the best bet in the race.

In terms of the QIPCO 1000 Guineas I’m already playing catch-up. I’d been backing Clemmie all winter so am absolutely gutted she’s not made it. I remain convinced she’s much better than these.

In her absence stablemate Happily is 5/2 favourite but in my eyes is more of an Investec Oaks filly. This could be ripe for an upset.

Step forward DAN’S DREAM – for my sporting hero Mick Channon.

She’s been supplemented into the race having landed the Fred Darling on her reappearance and will improve again on Sunday. It would be great for the sport to see Sir Ian Botham and Gareth Edwards associated with a Guineas winner.

It could be heart ruling the head but we could just be seeing the windmill celebration live on ITV 1 at around 3.40pm on Sunday.

Dan's Dream (near side) - Guineas hope for Mick Channon

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