Guineas Preview

This year's 2000 Guineas is the smallest field it's been in over 20 years I believe and you could argue the main reason for that is because much of the opposition has been scared off by Churchill for AP O'Brien. He's the market leader here and rightly so off his exploits last term, he signed off by winning the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in good style, he's won five of his six starts on the flat and is certainly the one to beat. He's followed in the market by Barney Roy for Godolphin and Richard Hannon, he looked impressive when seeing off Dream Castle at Newbury last time out and has every chance to serve it up to the favourite. Frankel offspring Eminent comes here off the back of winning the Craven Stakes at Newmarket and seems a very popular choice in the betting market. One I like here though is Al Wukair (4/1) for the French master Andre Fabre. He's won all three of his starts including the Group 3 Prix Djebel last time out. Fabre has come out and said that he believes that this horse will be in the top three come Saturday so he's clearly one that's thought very highly off. Churchill will be very hard to beat here if he brings his A game but at the prices I'd be willing to take him on with the Fabre raider in Al Wukair.

The 1000 Guineas is also headed by a AP O'Brien chance in Rhododendron. She comes into this off a lay off also when last seen winning the Group 1 Dubai Fillies Mile at Newmarket. She also won a Group 2 contest at the Curragh this season and certainly does look the one to beat here. One I like here though at the prices is the Roger Chartlon trained Fair Eva (7/1). The Frankel offspring looked to be a superstar in the making before being beaten at short odds in her last two starts of last season in a couple of Group 2 contests. However I'm going to stick with her here to regain her old form when seen winning in the Group 3 St Maragaret Stakes at Ascot back in July, I think the summer may of done her good as she'll come back in a lot better shape. Just like the 2000 Guineas the AP O'Brien market leader will likely be hard to peg back but at the prices i'd certainly be willing to have a go on Fair Eva trying to serve it up to the favourite.