Gleneagles for 2000 Guineas – Horse Racing Review

It seems strange to think that amongst the current wave of Grand Nationals, we are just two weeks away from the Flat season’s first two Classics of 2015: the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Classic Trials

A number of trials have taken place during the past week, including at Newmarket’s Craven Meeting, while Newbury staged some useful events at the weekend, including the Fred Darling Stakes.

Saturday’s renewal attracted last year’s Group 1 Cheveley Park winner, Tiggy Wiggy, who took a step into the unknown beyond sprinting. Richard Hannon’s filly came with a run, but had to settle for third, in the process failing to convince that she would get the 1,000 Guineas mile. As such, her odds for Newmarket drifted to 20/1, while her conqueror, Redstart, came into 16/1.

Hannon Duo Fluff Lines

Ralph Beckett’s, Redstart, made every post a winning one at Newbury, and while she will need to improve again, it’s worth noting her trainer knows how to win a Classic, and she represents value. As for Tiggy Wiggy, connections stated she has taken time in coming to herself this spring, but the jury remains out.

In the Greenham Stakes, there was another surprise winner, as Richard Hannon’s second hotpot of the day, Ivawood, was beaten into third at 13/8, with stablemate, Estidhkaar, runner-up.

Once again, Hannon stated that last year’s Middle Park runner-up, Ivawood, would have need the run, but with Saturday’s winner, Muhaarar, just over 1l behind Ivawood in the Middle Park, it’s possible Muhaarar improved over the winter. He is now the 12/1 third favourite for the 2,000.

Atlantic Raider

There was also a rare candidate for the 2,000 to emerge from America at the weekend in Wesley Ward’s, Hootenanny, who won a minor sprint for Ballydoyle.

Last year’s Royal Ascot and Breeders’ Cup winner should not be underestimated, as he already won over a mile (Breeders’ Cup), and handles fast ground, which could surface following the current dry spell. At 20/1, he remains an interesting each-way prospect.

There was also action at the Curragh on Sunday where Jim Bolger stole the show in sending out an amazing 840/1 treble, including a second victory for Parish Hall in the Alleged Stakes. Bolger also had the shock 50/1 winner, Flight Risk, who won the Group 3 Gladness Stakes.

Gleneagles Remains Solid

However, it appears some punters were not impressed with the weekend trials, as Ballydoyle’s, Gleneagles, was supported into 6/4 to win a seventh 2,000 Guineas for Aidan O’Brien.

Last year’s dual Group 1 winner has not been seen this season, but O’Brien has headed straight to Newmarket with some of his previous winners, such as Camelot in 2012.

Elsewhere at the weekend, Charlie Appleby expressed confidence that Godolphin’s impressive Good Friday winner, Pretend, would handle turf, and was set to go for next month’s Haydock’s Temple Stakes prior to Royal Ascot’s King’s Stand Stakes, where he is a 9/1 shot.

But, for punters still in jumps mode, then Wayward Prince took Saturday’s Scottish National and is now 33/1 for next year’s Grand National, while Oliver Sherwood confirmed at the weekend that Many Clouds would be targeted to defend his Aintree crown in 2015, where he is 25/1.