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15:35 Newmarket

Saturday 5 May 2018

All13:5014:2014:5515:3516:1016:4517:20

Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 15:38 | Winning time: 1m 36.55s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Cardsharp²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 111

80/1

Group 2 winner here on the July course last year, though the runner-up reversed the form in good style later in the season in the Dewhurst. Disappointed on return in France last month and not sure to appreciate this step up in trip.

Form: 13335-9

(11)

Elarqam²¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: C & M Johnston| C

5/1

Frankel colt, unbeaten in two starts. Won on debut at York in a race that's working out well and improved to land a Group 3 here last time over 7f. Needs to step up again here but beautifully bred and trip unlikely to be an issue given his pedigree.

Form: 11-

(4)

Expert Eye¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 114| BF

12/1

Won his first two starts in good style, resulting in going off odds-on for the Dewhurst in October. Disappointed that day (too keen) and similar story at Newbury on return last month when a beaten favourite. Must settle better if he's to win this.

Form: 119-2

(5)

Gustav Klimt^t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112

4/1

Improved from debut to win a Curragh maiden in good style and confirmed the visual impression of that with a game win in the Superlative Stakes here. Will come on for a Listed win last time and first-string for yard that have a fine record in this.

Form: 511-1

(6)

Headway⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: W J Haggas| OR: 106

20/1

Placed twice in Group 2 company last year and won from what looked an impossible position in a Listed race at Lingfield last time, producing a fast couple of final furlongs. More needed here but he may come on for that run.

Form: 21263-1

(7)

James Garfield¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: George Scott| OR: 112

25/1

Won the Group 2 Mill Reef at Newbury last year before he was well beaten at the Breeders' Cup on only try over this trip. Returned with a solid effort to beat Expert Eye last time but more exposed than some in this and more needed here.

Form: 14210-1

(14)

Masar¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 118| BF| CD

5/2

Group 3 winner who suffered a horror trip in the Breeders' Cup, and clearly didn't take to dirt but back with a bang when winning the Craven by 9L last time. This is obviously tougher but no fluke about that effort and he ticks plenty of boxes.

Form: 3136-01

(8)

Murillo^t³⁰⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W M Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107| BF

40/1

Placed in two Group 2s last year. Never been further than 6f but there's hope in his pedigree he will stay. While possible he's here to ensure a strong gallop and he's not yard's first string, he can't be entirely ruled out.

Form: 6133-

(13)

Nebo¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: C Hills| OR: 108| BF

100/1

Group 3 winner at the end of last season but well beaten on seasonal return here in April when the yard were going well and he's more exposed than most of his rivals.

Form: 26321-6

(2)

Raid^h¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: M Harley| T: D M Simcock

33/1

Won his maiden at Doncaster but disappointed at Newbury when only fourth of seven behind James Garfield. Needs a big step forward from that run.

Form: 1-4

(1)

Rajasinghe¹⁸³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: R Spencer| OR: 107

50/1

Impressive debut winner at Newcastle before going on to win the Group 2 Coventry, beating Headway by a narrow margin. Struggled at elite level, most recently in the Breeders' Cup and jury's out on whether he can make into a better three-year-old.

Form: 11300-

(12)

Roaring Lion¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 118| BF| CD

14/1

Excellent runner-up to Saxon Warrior in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster but disappointed when odds on at Newmarket on return in the Craven when no match for Masar. Hard to see him reversing that form.

Form: 1112-3

(9)

Saxon Warrior¹⁸⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 119| D

3/1

Unbeaten in three starts, most recent win was when staying on gamely to beat Roaring Lion in last season's Racing Post Trophy. Needs to step up on that to win this and lacks any course form; while he can't be ruled out, there's reasons to oppose.

Form: 111-

(10)

Tip Two Win²¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: R A Teal| OR: 107

50/1

Consistent sort last year, winner of a Listed race before finishing runner-up to the smart re-opposing prospect Elarqam. Proved no real match for that less experienced rival and needs a big step up on that on his seasonal return.

Form: 13212-

Forecasts

Masar (5/2), Saxon Warrior (3/1), Gustav Klimt (4/1), Elarqam (5/1), Expert Eye (12/1), Roaring Lion (14/1), Headway (20/1), James Garfield (25/1), Raid (33/1), Murillo (40/1), Tip Two Win (50/1), Rajasinghe (50/1), Cardsharp (80/1), Nebo (100/1)

The Craven Stakes hasn't been the strongest trial for this in recent times but there was plenty to like about the way MASAR won the race here last month. He has course form, seemingly doesn't mind any going (on turf) and is proven over the trip; he looks a solid proposition in a wide open renewal of the race. Aidan O'Brien's record in the race is worth noting and Gustav Klimt is another with course form to his name. It could be significant he's the pick of Seamie Heffernan who is likely to have had the choice of who to ride in Ryan Moore's absence (rides stablemate Mendelssohn in the Kentucky Derby). Elarqam is an exciting prospect who could be anything and he's hard to put a line through.