Saturday 2nd May 2026
The first of four bets for me on 2000 Guineas Day comes within the 1.45 at Newmarket, and this is a Class 2 Heritage Handicap over six furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of DOUBLE RUSH in this ten-runner affair for the team of Andrew Balding and Shane Foley. He won assertively on his stable debut over course and distance at the Crave Meeting last month, getting the better of a thirteen-runner Class 2 field in impressive style by four and three-quarters of a length. He’s eight pounds well in for this particular assignment, and if he’s in the same form as he was last time, he should be very tough to beat.
Moving on to the 2.20, and this is another Class 2 Heritage Handicap, in the form of the Suffolk Stakes, which is contested over a mile and a furlong. I think that BOTANICAL can run a good race here for Karl Burke and Clifford Lee. He posted an encouraing effort on his stable debut in the Lincoln at Doncaster last time out, finishing fourth of twenty-one and just a length and three-quarters behind the eventual winner Urban Lion, after trying to make all. He remains on the same mark here, and he should naturally take a step forward coming into his second start of the campaign for a prolific yard.
Next up is the 2.55, and this is the Group 3 Palace House Stakes, which is ridden over five furlongs. We have fourteen runners going to post here, and once again, this is a highly competitive affair. If anywhere near his best, Asfoora will be tough to beat here; however, this won’t be his cup final. Therefore, I think RUMSTAR looks almost sure to go well for Jonathan Portman and Rob Hornby. This has likely been the plan for him, given that he won this race. He’s suited by this track, and is also versatile ground-wise, having won on good-to-firm as well as soft. He has every chance of being bang on the premises at the business end of things.
The big one comes up at 3.35: none other than the Group 1 2000 Guineas, the first classic of the season. We have a fascinating renewal on our hands, and I think that we could see a big performance from the George Boughey-trained BOW ECHO here, under Billy Loughnane. He made a big impression as a two-year-old last season, winning all three of his starts to date, the most recent of those coming in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes over course and distance back in September. That proven course form often counts for a lot around here, which should be a big advantage to him, and if he’s continued the rate of progression we saw at the end of last term, he’s got to be a player. I find it hard to see him out of the first three, so his current price could be played each-way. Gstaad and Distant Storm are also highly progressive and could both prove to be huge players throughout their three-year-old campaigns.
Saturday Selections
Newmarket Guineas Festival (Day 2)
1.45 Newmarket
DOUBLE RUSH – (10/11) (Win) (NAP)
2.20 Newmarket
BOTANICAL – (13/2) (Each-Way) (4 places)
2.55 Newmarket
RUMSTAR – (4/1) (Each-Way) (4 places)
3.35 Newmarket
BOW ECHO – (4/1) (Each-Way) (4 places) (NB)
