Horse Racing Tips
2000 Guineas favourites discussed
With the 2024 Flat season now in full swing, the first Classic of the year is within reaching distance and will take place at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile racecourse on Saturday 4th May.
Read on for our discussion of the favourites in the market and our assessment of their chances in this year’s 2000 Guineas.
City Of Troy
Aidan O’Brien’s charge was undoubtedly 2023’s best two-year-old colt, winning his three starts – which included one run on this course – by a combined 12½ lengths.
As a result, he is the market leader by a notable margin and is widely anticipated to win the 2000 Guineas in similar easy style to his victories last season.
Given O’Brien’s record of winners in this race, 10 since 1998, it would come as no surprise if the Justify colt came up trumps again.
There are, however, a couple of things he has to prove; firstly, he must prove that he can “train on” and be as good against his rivals, given that they have all matured since last year, and he must show that he can do so on his seasonal debut. Some of his opponents here have the benefit of a run already this year, whereas City Of Troy comes here fresh.
Rosallion
Having lost only one of his four starts last season, the loss in question being on softer than ideal ground, Rosallion had an excellent two-year-old campaign.
He showed his class in the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp, running on superbly to win by a length, and the form of this run was franked by runner-up Unquestionable going on to win the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf next time out.
If any other runner has a chance of beating City Of Troy, Rosallion certainly has some of the best form on display and, if going well at Newmarket – where he is untried at present – he could be the winner, but, like the favourite, he comes here without a prep run.
Notable Speech
Charlie Appleby’s offering to the 2000 Guineas didn’t run aged two, but has had a very productive 2024 so far, winning three races over a mile on the all-weather.
His last run, which saw him win by two lengths, was a month ago, so he comes to Newmarket race fit and raring to go, which is more than can be said for the majority of his rivals.
While he is untried on Turf yet, there is plenty of good form on grass in his pedigree to suggest that he will handle the surface, and a runner from Charlie Appleby’s yard can never been underestimated.
Though not as highly rated as some of his peers here, Notable Speech has the fitness edge and could improve for his Turf debut.
Alyanaabi
A most interesting contender for the 2000 Guineas is Alyanaabi; the runner-up to City Of Troy in the Dewhurst last year.
Admittedly, he was well beaten three and a half lengths behind, but there is no doubt that he a good horse, especially on softer ground, as he had at Newmarket that day.
He can clearly perform on any ground, so could prove to be more versatile then his rivals and might get closer to City Of Troy this time around.
Ghostwriter
Clive Cox’s unbeaten colt Ghostwriter is one of few contestants here who is proven over course and distance, having won the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes here last September.
While he has something to find in terms of official ratings, he is a very capable colt who can be expected to take a step forward here, although there is nothing in his form or his pedigree to suggest that soft ground will suit him, so connections will be hoping for dry weather.
