Friday 1st May 2026
The Guineas Meeting gets underway at Newmarket on Friday, and the first of my four selections on the opening day runs in the 2.20, which is the Listed Newmarket Stakes over a mile and two furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of POSEIDON’S WARRIOR here for the team of Charlie Appleby and William Buick. It goes without saying that the Appleby outfit has plenty of success around this track, and this three-year-old by Sea The Stars looks like another big player for them. He was a five-length winner of a novice event at Goodwood on his final start of last term, and returned to the track with a very solid second in the Listed Fielden Stakes here last month. He should take a big step forward coming into this start, and the yard has won three out of the last five runnings of this race.
The second selection of the afternoon for me comes within the 2.55, and this is a Class 3 handicap that’s set to be ridden over a mile. This is extremely competitive, with a whole host of improvements likely from these three-year-olds. I’ve come down on the Richard Hannon-trained ST ANTON, though here, who’s the mount of Joe Leavy. He’s still a maiden after four starts; however, he’s run well in each of those outings and hasn’t been out of the top three. He posted his best effort to date over course and distance last time out, where he finished third of twelve on his handicap debut, just three-quarters of a length behind the progressive winner Darn Hot Gallop. He kept on well that day, and has to be considered as a player here off the same mark.
We move into pattern company at 3.30, with the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes taking centre-stage over a mile and four furlongs. Bay City Roller will be a popular play with punters here at the top of the betting; however, I’m taking him on here with LION’S PRIDE for the in-form team of John & Thady Gosden. He’s the mount of Benoit De La Sayette here, and he’s the only one out of the market principles who has race fitness on his side, having run in Group 3 company at Newbury last month. He was sent off the 9/4 favourite for that assignment and could only manage fourth of six. He should, however, take a significant step forward following that run, and he’s a course and distance winner, having won the Listed Godolphin Stakes here back in September. This could be the day to catch him.
My fourth and final selection of the day at Newmarket comes in the 4.40, and this is the Listed King Charles II Stakes over seven furlongs. I’m quite strong on the chances of CERRO BLANCO here, who heads the betting, and is another one for Charlie Appleby, and this time the mount of Billy Loughnane. He was heavily supported on his racecourse debut here in April at the Craven Meeting, and rewarded his backers with a promising display, getting up to beat Wield by a length and a quarter. He’s a Wootton Bassett colt who is an impressive-looking individual, and he will likely show significant progression throughout this season. He’ll need to take a big step up here against these rivals, but he could have a bit of star quality about him.
Friday Selections
Newmarket Guineas Festival Day 1
2.20 Newmarket
POSEIDON’S WARRIOR – (4/5) (Win) (NAP)
2.55 Newmarket
ST ANTON – (11/2) (Each-Way)
3.30 Newmarket
LION’S PRIDE – (7/2) (Win)
4.40 Newmarket
CERRO BLANCO – (6/4) (Win) (NB)
