Nick Luck
Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Newmarket 2000 Guineas Day & Thirsk tips
William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews Saturday’s ITV racing from 2000 Guineas Day at Newmarket and Thirsk.
Newmarket
The ITV opener at Newmarket is the six-furlong handicap (13:45), and I’m siding with APOLLO ONE. I concede that Double Rush is going to take a world of beating, but he did have a perfect trip last time and I don’t want to be backing him at odds-on in another handicap off a much higher mark. Apollo One is quite well-handicapped now and seems sure to run his race at a big price.
Then it’s the Suffolk Handicap (14:20) and I’m taking another each-way swing at a big price with TYCOON. If Mister Winston is the favourite, then Tycoon shouldn’t be multiples of his price because he actually ran well behind him at the Craven meeting when he was running on completely the wrong part of the track. He wasn’t beaten all that far and he’s cycling back to a bit of form.
AIN’T NOBODY is another big-priced selection in the Palace House Stakes (14:55). His two best runs last year came on a proper sound surface and he’ll get similar conditions here. He’s got cheekpieces on, Ryan Moore on, he’s drawn near the pace and all that makes him a compelling each-way proposition.
The big race of the day is the first Classic of the season, the 2000 Guineas (15:35). My selection here is OXAGON. Nobody seems to be talking about John Gosden having his first 2000 Guineas winner this year, just when you least expect it. I believe the Craven form and that headgear made the difference that day. Had he gotten going earlier in the Champagne Stake I think he would’ve beaten Puerto Rico and that is some really quite outstanding form. I really don’t think he’s that far behind Bow Echo and Distant Storm, but he’s a much bigger price. He’s likely to be prominently ridden on a sound surface and he could be a very hard horse to pass.
Goodwood
Over at Goodwood, ZOOMING is a strong fancy in the Chelmer Fillies’ Stakes (13:30). There’s a lot of smart, speedy two-year-olds in this race who might not quite have progressed to three. I think this will set up for a horse to close late and Zooming, who looks like she wants further than six furlongs, can benefit from that. She remains open to a lot of progression, the stable is in excellent form and she makes a compelling case for herself.
ARISAIG is worth backing in the Listed Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood (14:05). She has quite a lot on her plate to beat Blue Bolt and Shes Perfect, but they’re both having their first run of the season and I’m hoping that Arisaig can build on a promising comeback at Newmarket. She’s proven that she’s capable at this level and she goes well at this track and she can go well.
Thirsk
One to keep an eye on elsewhere is the Thirsk Hunt Cup (14:40). FLIGHT PLAN has to have an excellent chance of following up here off 11lbs lower than when he last ran in a handicap in Britain on a sound surface. This race is no better than when he won it last year and I think he’s capable of another bold show.
